Beijing 2022: Petra Vlhova wins the women’s slalom

Heading into today’s race there was high anticipation in knowing what would happen between rivals, Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) and Petra Vlhova (SVK), as both have been going head to head all season.

After the first run, Lena Duerr (GER) was leading the pack with a 0.03-second lead on Michelle Gisin (SUI). Sitting in third was GS Olympic gold medallist, Sara Hector (SWE) 0.12 seconds behind Duerr. Vlhova was sitting in 8th, whilst Shiffrin had another unpleasant surprise and did not manage to finish her first race.

It clearly has been the season for Vlhova, dominating the women’s slalom World Cup, and now claiming her first Olympic medal and becoming Olympic champion.

On how she recovered from eighth after the first run to win gold: 
"Honestly, it was really difficult to be calm and focused on my skiing. But I had a lot of power from my team. They trusted me, they believed in me and they repeated to me, 'you are so strong, just ski free, enjoy and focus on your skiing, nothing else'. They were always repeating this to me in between the two runs. 
"I gave everything I had and at the end I am Olympic champion."

On what the gold medal means to her: 
"It's difficult to say what it means to me right now. I have been dreaming all my life to win an Olympics or just to have medals. 
"I have a lot of emotions right now, inside of me. This season I was really strong and today I gave everything."

Her coach, Mauro Pini (SUI), was more than ecstatic after Vlhova’s victory stating:

On his emotions:
"You can hear my heart in my voice. I'm really very, very happy. And we will be tonight, tomorrow and for all next year, I'm sure."

On Petra Vlhova’s second run:
"We were just asking Petra between the two runs to really be courageous. Big heart on the slope, second run
"Nothing to lose, just to be in the room tonight and don't regret nothing. Unbelievable. She had just one minute (at her) disposal and she used it completely full. Excellent."

After finishing 7th in her first run, Katharina Liensberger (AUT), fought back and managed to claim a 2nd place finish and so the silver Olympic medal.

On dedicating her silver medal to her grandfather who passed away recently: 
"After all I had this season, I am just so thankful and proud and I want to give this victory a little bit to my grandpa who is with me. It wasn't nice to lose him but I know he's here and of course he looked out for me. 
"I am so grateful for everything, all the hard things that came to me in the past season. Now it's just wonderful to know I can be fast and ski at that level. It's amazing to show that today."

At first, Swiss skier Wendy Holdener wasn’t sure whether her performance would be enough to claim an Olympic medal. Nonetheless, the Swiss persevered and claimed the bronze, 0.07 seconds ahead of the first-run leader, Lena Duerr.

On initially being disappointed with her efforts: 
"I would say it was just enough. I didn't feel as good as I felt in training. I was disappointed when I came to the finish because I knew it wasn't enough (for gold). I somehow felt it and then one by one a girl went behind me and I am so happy after all.
"I love the big events. I already have won a lot, but I am really happy I managed it again. Now it (the Olympic Games) have really started."

On all three medallists making up significant ground in the second run:  
"All the girls were crying. Normally we are strong girls, but I guess it was a surprise for all of us. I was fifth (after run one) and the others (gold medallist Petra Vlhova (SVK) and silver medal winner Katharina Liensberger (AUT)) were even further behind (VLHOVA started run two in eighth and Liensberger was seventh)."

Leading after the first run, Lena Duerr was disappointed with her 4th place finish.

On the agony of finishing fourth, having led after the first run: 
"It was close. Really disappointing to be so close to the podium and even for the victory - 0.19 (seconds) for first. Right now I am just really sad. But also proud of my first run. Someone has to be fourth. 
"I was really OK at the start actually, and the first run. I knew what to do. It's always good for me if I have a plan and I know what to do, then I feel free and I can ski the way I like, the way I planned. I was not especially nervous.
"Maybe with a few days I will see something good in it."

GS Olympic gold medallist, Sara Hector (SWE), was sitting in 2nd place after her first run. However, during her second run, the Swede skied out and didn’t finish her race.

On skiing out in the second run:
"I struggled. The ski was a little bit too close on one gate and it was over."

On her performance overall:
"I'm super proud of my skiing and I gave it all I got out there. Sport is sport and anything can happen. For sure it's a little bit bitter now, but I'm super happy for the way I charged and did my best. Maybe later in life I can make a podium in slalom, too."

On what she said to gold medallist Petra Vlhova (SVK):
"That she really deserved it. I saw her run (and) she was skiing super strong. Just really happy for her."

One of the biggest upsets of today’s race was when American, Mikaela Shiffrin didn’t finish her first run. The six-time slalom World Cup winner shared her thoughts on what happened:

"I was pushing and maybe it was just past my limit. I had the intention to do my best skiing and my quickest turns but in order to do that I had to push the line, the tactics and it's really on the limit then and things happen so fast that there is not space to slip up, even a little bit. I started with a strong mentality and then I was out of the course."

Quotes courtesy of Olympic Information Service