Petra Vlhova's comeback is not yet in sight. © APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH

Deep insights from a ski luminary: “Searching for myself”

Injury concerns, heartbreak, self-discovery – in a profound interview, Petra Vlhova spoke with remarkable openness about the most difficult period of her life. The Beijing Olympic slalom champion also made it clear: she's not thinking about retiring.

01 October 2025

From: leo

On October 20, 2024, thousands flocked to Jasna to cheer on the best Slovak skier of all time. Instead of a celebrated triumph, the giant slalom ended in sporting tragedy. Vlhova fell, had to be stretchered off, and tore her cruciate ligament. The 30-year-old has since undergone two surgeries, and there's no end in sight to her ordeal.

In the talk show Trochu inak on Dvojka The 31-time World Cup winner now offered deep insights into this time, which was especially mentally challenging. Especially since she split with her long-time boyfriend, Michal, just a few months after the injury. "I'm doing well, better than before, but it's still not optimal. I'm fighting and trying to stay positive," Vlhová said. "Most of all, I'm fighting with myself."

Processing still in progress

The two serious blows of fate mentioned above have profoundly shattered her life, and she is still recovering. "Everything happens for a reason. The things that happened to me helped me get to know myself and work on myself. I started going to therapy because it was really difficult at times," Vlhova reveals. "I'm still somewhat searching for myself. My whole life revolved around skiing. Then this injury happened – and suddenly you're sitting at home alone and realize: You have nothing else. At the same time, your relationship, the personal foundation that somehow supported you, collapses."

Petra Vlhova and her ex-boyfriend Michal Kyselic. © Social Media

From these difficult moments, Vlhova also learned new things about herself. She describes herself as an "individualist," but has learned to compromise in her relationship. "And how much I can fall in love and how much love I can give," says Vlhova, who is open to a new relationship. However, due to her fame, this is difficult for her. "It bothers me that people see me primarily as Vlhova, the skier perceive – and not as Petra, the person behind the athlete.”

At the end of the interview, Vlhova was also asked about her future in skiing – and whether she could accept the end of her career. She finally said in May: "I don't know if I'll ever be able to ski again." Although she will miss the World Cup opener in Sölden at the end of October, the skiing luminary concluded: "I don't want to accept a premature end to my career and firmly believe that I can come back."