Slovakian skier Petra Vlhová will compete in the women’s slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Should she successfully complete the first run, she will automatically advance to the second. The first run is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., with the second run to follow at 1:30 p.m.
A potential scheduling conflict for Slovakian viewers exists with the second run coinciding with the quarterfinal hockey match between Slovakia and Germany, which begins at 12:10 p.m.
Slovak Television will broadcast the hockey game, but fans of skiing won’t miss out. Thanks to an exception granted to the main broadcaster, the second run will be available on the stvr.sk website.
the second run will be available on Eurosport with Czech commentary, ORF with German commentary, and M4 Sport with Hungarian commentary.
The race will also be streamed on HBO Max, and a text-based online broadcast will be available on Sportnet.sk.
If the hockey quarterfinal goes into overtime, a scheduling conflict with the women’s biathlon relay, which begins at 2:45 p.m. On :Šport, is possible.
“In the event that the hockey game is extended beyond three periods and interferes with the biathlon relay, we have the option to broadcast the biathlon relay on a separate stream,” explained Pavol Gašpar, Director of the Sports Section of STVR.
“This represents an exceptional situation, and we have been able to negotiate this exception so that our viewers have a choice,” he added.
Petra Vlhová, a former Olympic slalom champion, is making a highly anticipated return to competition after a two-year absence due to a knee injury, as reported by the Associated Press. Vlhová was included in Slovakia’s team for the Milan Cortina Games, aiming for a comeback after tearing ligaments in her right knee in January 2024.
The 30-year-aged Vlhová, who hasn’t competed since the injury, is one of 52 athletes representing Slovakia at the Winter Games. She was cleared by her medical team “for full skiing intensity” last week, but acknowledged the short preparation time makes her Olympic participation “a bit crazy.”
Vlhová has long been a top rival to American star Mikaela Shiffrin in slalom events. The women’s slalom, the final skiing race on the Olympic schedule, is set for February 18 in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Vlhová plans to create a final decision on whether to compete just 48 hours before the race.
She has been training this week in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, which will host World Cup slalom and giant slalom races this weekend, but does not intend to participate in those events. Vlhová injured her knee on January 20, 2024, during a World Cup giant slalom in Jasná, Slovakia, near her hometown in the Tatra Mountains.
Slovakian fans will have multiple options for watching the women’s slalom, with broadcasts available on various television channels and streaming platforms. The potential overlap with the Slovakia-Germany hockey quarterfinal has prompted organizers to ensure accessibility through alternative viewing options, including a live stream on stvr.sk.
