Slovakia's Petra Vlhova mounts massive comeback, wins slalom gold with Mikaela Shiffrin out

Gold medalist Petra Vlhova of Slovakia celebrates following the women's slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics. - Credit: Getty Images

Gold medalist Petra Vlhova of Slovakia celebrates following the women's slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics. – Credit: Getty Images

Slovakian slalom star Petra Vlhova executed a near-flawless second run to win the women’s slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics in dramatic comeback fashion.

Vlhova was eighth-fastest after a disappointing first run, .72 behind the pace set by Germany’s Lena Duerr, but made up for it with the fastest run of the day in her second attempt. The time of 52.09 was enough to leapfrog seven other contenders and take the gold medal that always seemed likely to wind up around her neck if not that of her rival, American Mikaela Shiffrin’s.

Shiffrin did not factor into the medal picture after skiing out of the women’s slalom in Run 1, a fate she also endured in the giant slalom two days prior.

Austria’s Katharina Liensberger, with the second-fastest Run 2, took silver while Wendy Holdener, Switzerland’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony claimed her fourth career Olympic medal, a bronze.

Paula Moltzan finished eighth to lead all Americans in the event.

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