Petra Vlhova Back On Skis For The First Time Since Surgery

Wednesday, August 21, 2024, was just another mid-week day for many, but not for Petra Vlhova SVK, the slalom Olympic champion. The 29-year-old stood on skis for the first time since her knee surgery, which she underwent in early February in Switzerland.

Vlhová injured herself in January during the 2023/24 World Cup race in Jasná. A necessary surgery and a long process of rehabilitation and strengthening followed this.

“It was great because I was on skis for the first time, finally. Seven months is an incredibly long time... It was an amazing feeling, and I was really excited to get this again,” she said with a smile. “I haven’t forgotten how to ski, which I was slightly worried about... Of course, I still feel my knee. It’s different, but it was great. We did a few runs to feel the moves. After just a few runs, I was tired, and my knee wasn’t in the best shape, but it’s great that I’m here. It is a big step forward!”

To get the green light to return to the slopes, the Beijing 2022 Olympic gold medalist had to undergo a medical check-up with the doctor who operated on her in February. Head coach of the Niké Ski Team Petra Vlhová, Mauro Pini, shared more details: “On Tuesday, we had a check-up six months after the surgery. It was an important moment for us to revisit our doctor. He gave Petra comprehensive tests, which every professional athlete must pass after such an injury. Petra had to do several exercises, and in the end, we got the green light to move forward. This means the knee is healing well, and everything is under control, so we are very pleased. The test result also means we’ve done much good work since the injury. We completed the first phase of recovery, and Petra and the team around her did a great job improving her strength. Of course, the knee will continue to need special care appropriate for further strain and recovery processes and for the athlete's age. The most important thing is that we got the green light and are back on the slopes. It’s a crucial day for us. We could finally go back on the snow!” the Swiss coach rejoiced.

Of course, fans eagerly await the answer to when the 2020/21 World Cup overall champion might be ready to compete again.

“It’s still probably too early to say. Of course, we have a plan and specific goals, but at the same time, we want to give her enough space to build the high performance and confidence necessary for competitive skiing. Our goal is for her to be ready for the race in mid-November in Levi, her ‘home’ slope, where she delivered incredible performances last season. We’ll decide practically daily, adjusting our plans based on how the knee responds and whether it needs a break. If a miracle happens, we may be ready for Sölden, but our ambition is to be 100% ready for Levi.”