Petra Vlhova Wins Olympic Slalom Gold

Petra Vlhova won Olympic slalom gold, Slovakia's first-ever medal in Alpine skiing.

What happened?

Vlhova finished eighth in the first slalom run, 0.72 seconds behind leader Lena Dürr. But she made it up in the second run, with gates set by new coach Mauro Pini. Vlhova's time was enough to take the gold, with Katharina Liensberger of Austria taking silver, 0.08 behind.

Why it matters for Petra Vlhova

Vlhova's win came after a grueling season under previous coach Livio Magoni, where she won the overall World Cup title. She credits Pini's relaxed approach for her success, saying "he gave me smiles". Vlhova was happy to ski every day, even when tired, and enjoyed the sport again.

What comes next?

Vlhova has already clinched the World Cup slalom title and will look to continue her success. She received congratulations from Slovakia's president, Zuzana Caputova, on her historic win. Vlhova's biggest rival, Mikaela Shiffrin, went out in the first run, her second straight race of the Beijing Games. Vlhova rushed over to hug her teammates and coach after Lena Dürr crossed the line in fourth place. The 30-year-old Dürr burst into tears, missing out on a first medal at a major championship. Vlhova's win was a huge moment for Slovakia, with the country celebrating its first medal of the Beijing Games. As of February 2022, Vlhova is 26 years old and has won one Olympic gold medal.