Ski superstar Petra Vlhova gave a gloomy update.

Gloomy update: Concerns about ski superstar

One of the greatest superstars of the skiing world faces an uncertain future. Will Petra Vlhova never return to the World Cup?

28 May 2025

From: det

She's the overall World Cup winner, Olympic champion, world champion—and for months, the one who's been absent from the ski circuit. Petra Vlhova is undoubtedly going through the most difficult time of her career—and at the same time, the most uncertain. The Slovakian has now given a grim update: "I don't know if I'll ever be able to ski again."

A brief look back. In January 2024, Petra Vlhova's skiing world was turned upside down. At her home race in Jasna, of all places, the Slovakian suffered a devastating fall and tore the cruciate ligament in her knee. Surgery and a months-long layoff followed. While other skiers are back on the slopes after six months, Vlhova's experience turned into a nightmare with no foreseeable end.

“I had no life left.” Peter Vlhova

There were complications during the recovery process, and the 29-year-old had to go under the knife again in March. "I had no life anymore. I couldn't do anything anymore, couldn't run, couldn't cycle, couldn't ski. The slightest exertion caused me pain," Vlhova said in a detailed interview with Radio Slovensko.

Vlhova is transported away after her fatal fall. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK

After the surgery, everything now starts from scratch, with Vlhova's future a single question mark. "No doctor has given me a guarantee that everything will be okay and that I'll be able to ski again. I'm taking one step at a time, and even if rehab goes well, we have to see if I'll be able to stand in the starting gate again."

Difficult Olympic forecast

These are gloomy words from Vlhova, the reigning Olympic slalom champion. Will she be competing at the 2026 Winter Games next February? "That's very difficult to say. I haven't skied for a year and a half, and I can't say whether I'm in shape or even whether I can ski at all. It's very difficult to make a prediction," said the skiing superstar.

“Inside, I was shattered into a thousand pieces.” Peter Vlhova

This time was especially hard on her mentally. "I wasn't feeling well mentally. When people saw me, they told me I seemed happy and cheerful, but inside I was shattered into a thousand pieces. This time showed me that you have to put yourself first," says Vlhova, who nevertheless exudes a certain optimism: "I think all of this will only make me stronger."