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Slovak Petra Vlhova, crowned Olympic slalom champion on Wednesday, will not start the downhill and combined event at the Beijing Olympics because of a left ankle injury, her brother Boris Vlha confirmed to AFP.
Petra Vlhova, 26, clinched Slovakia’s first ever Olympic title in alpine skiing on Wednesday after a thrilling slalom race.
But, hit in the left ankle, the Slovak prefers to recover and “prepare for the rest of the season”, as indicated to AFP Boris Vlha, brother and member of the staff of the champion, confirming information from Slovak media.
Vlhova is the reigning combined world runner-up and was among the favorites for Thursday’s race.
Holder of the title of the big crystal globe, the Slovak is currently second in the general classification of the Alpine Skiing World Cup, 17 points behind the American Mikaela Shiffrin.
The Women’s World Cup is due to resume in Crans Montana (Switzerland) at the end of February, and Vlhova should resume a week later in Lenzerheide (March 5 and 6) for a super-G and giant.
