Watch out, alpine ski world, Petra Vlhova is back on the slopes and back in the conversation.
The reigning Olympic slalom champion from Beijing 2022 confirmed on Saturday, 17 January, that she has been medically cleared to return to full skiing intensity, announcing on social media that she will still “fight for the chance” to compete at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Despite the limited time remaining before the Olympics, Vlhova says she is committed to doing everything possible to earn a place on the Slovakia Olympic team.
The 30-year-old has not raced since a devastating crash at the Jasna giant slalom World Cup in January 2024, where she tore her ACL and damaged her meniscus. A second surgery later that year delayed her return, but after returning to snow last October under new head coach Matej Gemza, she finally seems race-ready.
Vlhova has made it clear that her body will dictate the final decision, with plans to assess her readiness 48 hours before the slalom race.
The women’s Winter Olympic slalom event begins on 18 February. Discover the full alpine ski schedule here.