“Participation impossible”
Olympic champion misses World Ski Championships
01/20/2025 – 3:58 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Petra Vlhová has been working on her comeback for a year. However, she will not be back on the slopes for the World Ski Championships. A competitor is also worried about taking part.
Petra Vlhová will not be able to compete at this year’s Ski World Championships in Saalbach (February 4th to 16th). The Beijing 2022 Olympic slalom champion suffered a serious knee injury around a year ago during a giant slalom in Jasná (Slovakia), which required surgery and intensive rehabilitation. The Slovakian ski racer had hoped to make her comeback at the World Ski Championships – but nothing came of it.
According to an article by the International Ski Federation (Fis) on Platform X, returning to the slopes is currently not possible. Coach Mauro Pini was nevertheless optimistic: “Petra’s knee rehabilitation is finally on the right track and she is making encouraging progress every day. Unfortunately, the setbacks in December and January made her participation in the World Championships in Saalbach impossible.”
The statement continued: “We had hoped that she would be able to fight for medals, but that will not happen this time. However, a new chapter is beginning for Petra and her focus is already on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina.”
In addition to Petra Vlhová, one of her strongest competitors is currently out: the American Mikaela Shiffrin. The record holder fell during the giant slalom in Killington last year and has been working on her comeback ever since.
She wrote on Instagram over the weekend: “We’re still working hard in the gym and now starting to do some snow work too! Many of you have asked when I’ll be able to race again – I hope so I’ll have good news soon.” Shiffrin may be able to compete at the World Cup.