Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn both expressed delight as Petra Vlhová announced she has been cleared to return to full skiing and resume competing. The 30-year-old has not competed since January 2024, when she suffered a crash and tore her ACL.
Vlhová already has her sights set on competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 30-year-old will only have a few events to secure her qualification for Milano Cortina.
Petra Vlhová Shares Big News; Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn React
Vlhová announced her return to skiing with an Instagram post. She shared that she is ready to return to the sport, determined to compete for a chance to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“I have an important update regarding my health and the future of my career. I’ve just completed a medical check-up, and based on the results, my medical team and physiotherapists have cleared me for full skiing intensity. After two very challenging years, this is truly wonderful news for me. Given the current situation, it might sound a bit crazy, but despite how little time is left until the Olympics, I’ve decided to fight for the chance to compete.”
“I can’t guarantee that I’ll reach this goal, but I can promise you my absolute best every single day to earn the chance to be a part of the Slovak Olympic team and represent our country,” she added.
In the comments section under the post, both Shiffrin and Vonn shared their happiness at the news, along with thousands of other fans.
Shiffrin penned two emojis, conveying her best wishes to Vlhová in her bid to qualify for the Winter Olympics.
Vonn wrote, “Amazing News!!!”
Vlhová also received congratulations from other athletes, including Paula Moltzan, Sara Hector, Anna Swenn-Larsson, and tennis star Belinda Bencic.
Vlhová Won Slalom Title at 2022 Winter Olympics
Prior to her 2024 crash, Vlhová stunned the world of alpine ski racing and became the first alpine skier from Slovakia to win a gold medal in Slalom at the Olympic Games. Her triumph in Beijing came against the odds as she pulled off a stunning upset against the favorite, Shiffrin.
Vlhová was only the eighth-fastest after the conclusion of the first round. But an incredible second-round performance propelled her to the top of the leaderboard as she finished 0.08 seconds ahead of Austria’s Katharina Liensberger. Wendy Holdener of Switzerland finished in third place.
In addition to her Olympic gold medal, Vlhová has 31 World Cup wins and 73 podiums. She has also won six World Championship medals, including gold in the Giant Slalom at the 2019 Games.
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Vlhová will now hope to take inspiration from her 2022 run to secure her place in the field for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Milano Cortina Games will take place from Feb. 6 to 22, with alpine skiing beginning on Feb. 7.