Petra Vlhova’s comeback postponed further

Petra Vlhova’s comeback further delayed

Olympic slalom champion Petra Vlhova’s return to skiing, after a year’s absence, è has been postponed due to knee problems. This was stated by her team. The 29-year-old Slovakian è ruptured her knee cruciate when she fell in the first run of her home World Cup giant slalom in Jasna last Jan. 20.

The injury caused the Beijing 2022 Olympic champion to miss the rest of the season and the start of the current one. "Petra is still having problems with her knee,” her staff announced.

Extensive examinations revealed cartilage damage, which requires further specialized care.

Vlhova, who is undergoing intensive five-week treatment, will undergo another round of testing in January. "Not everything is going as planned and Petra is not going through the happiest time–said Italian coach Mauro Pini–I expect to know more about her ability to handle the full load by the end of December".

Pini also said medical examinations have "confirmed a very good condition of the operated segments of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, as well as a'high stabilityà of the knee".

Until her injury, Vlhova, a slalom and giant slalom specialist, was the most serious rival for American legend Mikaela Shiffrin between the narrow gates. The 29-year-old American, who è is one step away from winning her 100th World Cup race, is recovering from an injury suffered during a giant slalom in Killington in November.