Slovak ski star Petra Vlhová has officially confirmed her return to competitive skiing for her fourth Olympic Games after a two-year absence caused by a knee injury. The announcement came unexpectedly on Saturday, coinciding with the first official competition day, and marks a highly anticipated comeback for the athlete, who is eager to represent her country once more. She will be participating in both the team combined event and the slalom, which is particularly significant as she will try to defend her gold medal from the previous Olympics.

Vlhová's last competition was on January 20, 2024, where she suffered a fall that resulted in her injury during a giant slalom event in Jasná. Just a month prior to her announcement, she had released a video expressing her desire to attempt to compete at the Olympics, planning to confirm her decision a couple of days before the slalom competition. Ultimately, she opted to announce her participation two days early, focusing on the team combined event that will take place on February 10, before shifting to the slalom event on February 18, where she aims to reclaim her title.

While Vlhová is enthusiastic about her return, her coach, Matej Gemza, has been more cautious about outlining plans for her participation in the slalom. His comments emphasize the importance of care and strategy as they prepare Vlhová for a competitive return against formidable opponents like Mikaela Shiffrin. The upcoming events will not only mark an important milestone in Vlhová's career but will also be a key moment for Slovak sports as they hope for strong performances in the international arena.