Petra Vlhova is going through a difficult time.

A nightmare without end for Olympic ski champion

Petra Vlhova is one of the most successful female skiers in history. But the Olympic champion is currently trapped in a nightmare. Now she's suffered another major setback.

March 22, 2025

From: det

Fate often plays its own nasty games. Like with Petra Vlhova. Just over a year ago, on January 20, 2024, the reigning Olympic slalom champion competed in her home race in Jasna, Slovakia. The star skier wanted to put on a big show in front of a large crowd. But instead of a party, there was drama. Vlhova crashed in the giant slalom and tore her cruciate ligament.

For the former overall World Cup winner, this was the beginning of a nightmare that still hasn't ended. While other skiers with this type of injury return to World Cup competition after six months, Vlhova's story is quite different. The Slovakian hasn't competed in a single race this season. Even worse, she now had to undergo another surgery.

Petra Vlhova wants to return to the World Cup. © APA/afp / JURE MAKOVEC

"This isn't what I hoped for, but that's life," the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram. "It's been 13 months since my injury, and I've done everything I can to make a comeback. But unfortunately, I haven't been able to. Living with this knee has made everyday life difficult for me. In the end, surgery was the only solution."

Check out this post on Instagram

A post shared by Petra Vlhova (@petravlhova13)

Vlhova didn't reveal exactly what surgery she underwent. However, the skier made no secret of the fact that this setback had taken a heavy toll on her. "It's tough, but I'm ready to fight again," the Slovakian wrote. It's unclear when Vlhova will return to the slopes. However, the exceptional skier is likely to do everything she can to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games.