April 29 (Reuters) - ⁠Aleksander Aamodt Kilde has ⁠been named in the Norwegian ‌team for next season, officials said on Wednesday, confirming the speed ​specialist's intent to ⁠continue his career ⁠following a period of injuries ⁠and rehabilitation.

The ‌33-year-old, a former overall World Cup ⁠champion, sat out the latter ​half ‌of last season and withdrew ⁠from the ​Winter Olympics in February.

Kilde underwent multiple surgeries and ⁠faced a life-threatening infection ​following a high-speed crash in Wengen in January 2024.

He won the ⁠World Cup downhill title in 2022 and 2023, and was overall World Cup ​champion in 2020. ⁠He is the fiance of ​American slalom great ‌Mikaela Shiffrin.

(Reporting by ​Tommy Lund in Gdansk, editing by Ed Osmond)