In a devastating blow to the world of Alpine skiing, Olympic slalom champion Petra Vlhova has been forced to withdraw from next month’s world championships after suffering a major setback in her rehabilitation from a torn ACL. The Slovakian star, who has been the fiercest rival to American icon Mikaela Shiffrin over the past decade, injured her right knee in a crash one year ago and will now miss her chance to compete for gold in Saalbach, Austria.
Vlhova’s coach Mauro Pini delivered the unfortunate news, revealing that despite their hopes of having the 29-year-old ready to chase medals, the obstacles faced in recent months have made it impossible. The setback not only dashes Vlhova’s dreams of adding to her five career world championship medals but also casts doubt on whether Shiffrin will participate, as she continues to recover from abdominal surgery following her own crash in November.
A Rivalry on Hold
The absence of both Vlhova and potentially Shiffrin from the world championships deprives the event of a captivating rivalry that has defined women’s slalom for the past ten years. Since making her worlds debut as a 17-year-old in 2013, Vlhova has been a constant presence, competing in six consecutive editions and amassing an impressive collection of hardware:
- 1 gold medal (giant slalom in 2019)
- 4 additional medals (1 silver, 3 bronze)
Shiffrin, meanwhile, has been the standard-bearer in slalom, with Vlhova often her nearest challenger. The American edged her rival for GS gold in 2019, relegating Vlhova to bronze. Now, with both champions sidelined, the battle for slalom supremacy in Saalbach is wide open.
Unfortunately, the setbacks she faced in December and January have made it impossible for her to participate in the world championships in Saalbach. We had hoped she could compete for medals, but that won’t happen this time.
Mauro Pini, Petra Vlhova’s coach
Olympic Glory and the Road to 2026
For Vlhova, the focus now shifts to regaining full fitness and targeting the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. It would mark her fourth Olympic appearance, and the 29-year-old has unfinished business after finally breaking through for gold in Beijing in 2022. After nine fruitless races across three previous Games, Vlhova triumphed in the slalom, etching her name in Olympic history.
The road to Italy will be challenging, as Vlhova works to rebuild strength and confidence in her surgically repaired knee. However, Pini expressed optimism about her rehabilitation, noting that progress has been encouraging, and they remain committed to the long-term goal of Olympic glory.
Petra’s knee rehabilitation is finally on the right track, with encouraging progress every day.
Mauro Pini
An Uncertain Future
As the Alpine skiing world grapples with the absence of two of its brightest stars, questions linger about the future of the sport’s most compelling rivalry. Will Vlhova regain the form that saw her consistently challenge Shiffrin at the pinnacle of the sport? Can Shiffrin, already a three-time Olympic champion, return to her dominant ways after her injury layoff?
The answers may not come in Saalbach, but the 2026 Winter Olympics loom large as a potential stage for Vlhova and Shiffrin to renew their battle for slalom supremacy. As both champions navigate the arduous path to recovery, fans eagerly await the day when they can once again witness the electrifying sight of these two legends going head-to-head on the sport’s grandest stages.
Until then, the Alpine skiing world must forge ahead, with new faces and emerging stars vying to fill the void left by the absence of its most transcendent figures. The world championships in Saalbach will crown new heroes, but the specter of Vlhova and Shiffrin’s rivalry will linger, a tantalizing promise of the greatness that may once again grace the slopes in the years to come.
