She kept smiling. She gestured cheerfully. Petra Vlhová (25) did not admit it at Tuesday’s press conference, but on the best skier of the end of the World Cup season, you could see how big a stone fell from her heart.
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“A big globe is a lifelong success,” she told the Slovak media.
Have you absorbed all the emotions that gaining a big globe has brought?
Feelings are already better than after Saturday’s slalom. It was quick. I lost a small globe, I got a big one. Joy and sorrow mingled in me. Over time, I realized that I had met the pre-season goal. It’s more than winning a slalom rating. Now the emotions are amazing. Every day I become more and more aware of what I have achieved.
What does a big globe mean to you?
It made me cry, the whole of Slovakia cried with me. It is an incredible success. Getting a big globe in the conditions I grew up in is incomparable to big countries. We have a small team compared to the Swiss or the Austrians. I am glad that the girl from Slovakia overcame the superpowers. I can say that I am the best skier in the world.
Do you plan to celebrate the big globe with your fans?
I can’t say how hard we are at a difficult time. When I got it on Saturday, the first thing that occurred to me was that I wanted to celebrate it with the fans. Probably a lot of people would come. I am sad that we are in such a situation. I would enjoy a globe with the whole country. I feel how Slovakia enjoys my success. It’s mutual – I’m glad that in difficult times I can create a smile on people’s faces. If it was up to me, I’ll tell everyone in a moment that we’ll meet here and there today. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.
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How important is family support to you?
Family is the basis of everything for me. Without her, I wouldn’t be sitting here and having no results. If I didn’t have parents who sacrificed themselves and invested incredible money in me, I wouldn’t use my talent. Thanks to them, I am the best in the world.
What helped you in difficult times?
I have a great team around me. When I had a hard time, coach Livio Magoni in particular encouraged me to fight to the end. He told me that I might not have the results I wanted, but I had to go further and collect point by point. None of us knew it would be that hard. I cried to my brother Boris several times that it was no longer possible. I’m a warrior and I went to the end. We kept together, even though we had a hard time. We are very happy about that.
It has been speculated that some countries have not congratulated you. It’s true?
Sooner or later they congratulated us. Apparently they must have slept by overcoming them. The next day came sincere words. They see what conditions we are in and what our team is like. They know I have no one to fight for us. Some countries have an additional ten people on the slope who deal with organizational matters. The congratulations were all the more honest that the skier from Slovakia won a big globe. Ten years ago, we would have considered it impossible. Due to the budget and the lack of people. Me, my team and my family did it. It is not the result of one year, it is a lifelong success.
Is the globe difficult?
My brother whispers to me that he has seven kilos… (smile). But I lift more weights (laughs).
Would you like to fight him next year as well?
I can’t answer this question right now. I need to rest. If I were to take a stand now, I would say no. Maybe then I’d say I’m done. There is a very thin border. I sacrificed everything – even my personal life – and I had only one goal in front of my eyes. I trained as much as I could. Maybe I’ll get it again.
Does this mean that the priority will be to fight for the Olympic medal at next year’s Olympics?
Yes.
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Will your program also change? Will you omit speed disciplines?
I will definitely go some downhill and super G, but not the whole program. I focus on technical disciplines. It’s all in the solution stage.
Which of the congratulations do you value the most?
From President Zuzana Čaputová. I’ll be honest, I love her very much. I didn’t expect it. My manager Richard Galovič handed me the phone. I sounded classic: please, who’s there? I was shocked when she introduced herself… When the president calls you, it’s an honor. I realized what I had achieved. I was really pleased.
What is the best way to relax?
If it was up to me, I would have blown away for a month. But Livio wouldn’t be happy with that (laughs). I’m very tired. In order to be able to start training fully again, I need to rest for a few days. I need time for myself too. I appreciate having a friend who understands that.
When did you start dreaming about the globe?
Rather, the little one used my reason for one of the disciplines. When Livio arrived, he was the first to notice my potential. He had experience with Tina Maze, but we still weren’t convinced. Only after 2-3 years did we think that it would probably work. I first realized this last year. I tried to withstand all disciplines. After that, we set our goal. And the globe is here, on the table.
How much credit does Coach Magoni have to do with this?
He is the head coach and leader of the whole team. He is an excellent coach, he has a lot of experience. He knows how difficult the journey to the big globe is. Maybe I could do it with another coach. Because after all, I go to the start and I have to ski. If I didn’t have Boris, my parents, my coaches, my servants, my mental trainer, I wouldn’t be here now. It’s a jigsaw puzzle. Livio has a lot to do, but there are many people and factors.
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He’s a perfectionist. What did he tell you after the race?
He was moved. He later told me I didn’t do good slalom. However, he is very happy. He also wanted to bring a globe to Slovakia.
Do you believe that your success will help your followers?
I believe that the new union will be both official and national and will help me and the younger generation. I will be happy if I become a good role model for other children.
What awaits you in the coming days?
I will test the new material in Jasná. I’m looking forward to being home. I was there very little. I’ll enjoy it.
Are you looking forward to your mother’s kitchen?
I can’t eat much now after the season. But I will take everything from my mother. I will not refuse Liptov dumplings with bacon or a cake. I have to go about it gradually, because my body would get a shock. I look forward to it.
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