Skier Vlhová has three attempts to win the ultimate prize, an Olympic medal

Just one piece is missing from the puzzle. After winning the title of world champion in 2019 and a large crystal globe last season, the skier Petra Vlhová will fight for another sports trophy.

She could medal in up to three disciplines in the Winter Olympics in Beijing: the giant slalom, slalom and the combined discipline.

As for the super-G discipline, Vlhová can only surprise fans given that she is not familiar with the course. It is not yet known whether she will take part in the downhill event.

What are Vlhová’s chances in the individual disciplines? Who will be her biggest competitors?

GIANT SLALOM: Vlhová under no pressure

Monday, February 7 (Round 1 at 03:15 (CET), Round 2 at 06:45 (CET))

The first race of the Olympic Games is often the most crucial. Vlhová and her whole team are aware of this. The Slovak skier skipped the speed disciplines in Cortina, Italy, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany to focus on giant slalom training.

The runner-up in the pre-Olympics race in Kronplatz, Italy, Vlhová has confirmed she is in good form.

“I feel confident in the giant slalom right now. We will do our best to keep this good feeling and to keep believing in myself,” the skier told the Slovak Skiing Association.

This season, she came third in the giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, fourth and fifth in Courchevel, France, second in Lienz, Austria, and Kronplatz, and fifteenth in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

She fought for a podium position in five out of six races. In Beijing, she will clearly be one of the medal favourites.

“We are satisfied with the giant slalom, although we are not quite at the top yet,” admitted Vlhová’s coach Mauro Pini three weeks before the Olympics.

In Beijing, the skier will not be under the greatest pressure when it comes to the giant slalom. Up to eight skiers can fight for medals.

Sara Hector, a Swedish alpine ski racer, is currently in the best form. She has won three of the last five giant slaloms. She came second and third in the other two races.

The US alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin will defend the gold medal from the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Tessa Worley, Marta Bassino, Federica Brignone, Lara Gut-Behrami and Michelle Gisin will also have a chance to win a medal.

SLALOM: The discipline in which Vlhová is the best

Wednesday, February 9 (Round 1 at 03:15 (CET), Round 2 at 06:45 (CET))

If the Slovak hockey team does not make it to the Olympic finals, then the women’s slalom in Beijing will probably be the most-watched discipline by Slovaks.

Vlhová has the highest ambitions in slalom. She won the most races in this discipline within the World Cup. Experts often point out that she is a slalom girl.

In the current season, out of six slaloms, she won four and finished second twice. In slalom, she is clearly a top contender for gold.

“I have achieved several successes, but I do not have an Olympic medal. Stress and expectations will surely come. I want to get it and I will put everything into this ambition of mine,” Vlhová writes in her autobiography.

Petra Vlhová competes in the first round of the women's World Cup slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on January 9, 2022. (source: Martin Baumann for TASR)

Four years ago, she was also a favourite in PyeongChang, but she finished thirteenth. Vlhová learned a lesson from the great disappointment. She is more experienced and prepared now.

“I learned to deal with stress when someone was catching up to me in the World Cup. I have won the globes. I have grown physically and mentally,” she added.

Winning the small globe for slalom, which she already confirmed in mid-January, can be a psychological boost for her. In the current season, Vlhová proves that she is the best in slalom.

Only a below-average run or unexpected mistakes could rob her of a medal. With two optimal rides, she should stand on the podium.

Mikaela Shiffrin will be her biggest rival. Other medal candidates include Katharina Liensberger, Wendy Holdener, Lena Dürr, Anna Swenn-Larsson and Michelle Gisin.

SUPER-G: Vlhová as a surprise

Friday, February 11 at 04:00 (CET)

In the super-G slalom, Vlhová is not a favourite. She might not even finish in the top ten.

Speed ​​disciplines have not been a priority for the Slovak skier this season.

Vlhová only competed in the super-G competition in Zauchensee, Austria, and finished in 18th place. At first glance, the result seems ordinary. But Vlhová lost to the winner Federica Brignone by just 0.90 seconds, and in the first half of the course, she belonged to one of the fastest racers.

In the second part, however, she made a trivial mistake, which made her very angry. Had she not made the mistake, she could have even made it on the podium.

Vlhová's disadvantage in the World Cup is her minimal experience with the slopes in speed disciplines. Yet, in Beijing, this will not matter.

“It will be interesting. No one has ever competed in Beijing. Only Chinese racers will probably have an advantage, even if they are not expected to fight for medals,” Vlhová’s Slovak coach Matej Gemza said.

Before her super-G race, it will be clear whether Vlhová has won a medal in her strongest disciplines. If so, she could relax and fight for a super-G medal.

Italian skiers Federica Brignone, Elena Curtoni and Sofia Goggia will definitely set their eyes on medals in this discipline. However, it is not yet certain whether Goggia will partake in the Olympics after her crash during a World Cup super-G in Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 23.

THE COMBINED: Least competition

Thursday, February 17 (downhill at 03:30 (CET), slalom at 07:00 (CET))

At the Olympics four years ago, Vlhová took home fifth place in the combined event. It was her best result in South Korea.

She will be one of the biggest candidates for a medal in this versatility competition. Vlhová won a silver medal in combined races during the last two world championships.

Petra Vlhová competes in the first round of the women's World Cup slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, on January 4, 2022. (source: Martin Baumann for TASR)

The Slovak is currently the best slalom skier, and she is also good at speed disciplines. There aren't many other skiers that could give her a run for her money.

Therefore, in terms of medal ambitions, Vlhová will face the least competition in the Alpine combined event. Only a racer who belongs among the best slalom skiers can win a medal.

That is why the number of favourites will narrow down to Mikaela Shiffrin, Michelle Gisin, Wendy Holdener and Petra Vlhová.

“Vlhová has achieved many victories and won many awards, except for an Olympic medal. Only the last piece of the puzzle is thus missing,” said Gemza.

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