Velez-Zuzulová would not want to be in Vlh’s place: Petra does not need experts now, but support – Športky.sk

BEIJING – Monday’s huge slalom at the Beijing Olympics ended for Petra Vlhová, who was 2.46 seconds behind the winning Swede Sara Hector and finished 14th. Our former successful skier and today RTVS expert Veronika Velez-Zuzulová also commented on the performance of the Slovak star, who definitely had bigger ambitions before the sports holiday of the year.

“No surprise. Although Sara Hector may have surprised me personally. It was a completely new situation for her. She went to the race as a giant slalom leader and was able to confirm her position. It doesn’t always work out at the Olympics.” addressed the introductory words of Velez-Zuzulová to the Swedish winner.

“Federica Brignone was not surprised, but she gave two even races without a mistake, which she has not managed so far this season. Lara Gut-Behrami had nothing to lose, it worked out and she has bronze,” The RTVS expert evaluated other medal positions in the study.

She believed she would make it to the medal

Velez-Zuzulová, like the Slovak competitor herself, expected more from the biggest Slovak hope in Beijing in the first performance due to her form and well-being in the Vlhová team: “It’s especially disappointing for Petra. When we heard her statements and words before the race, which were very positive, she wanted and probably expected more herself.”

“I had a feeling that she could win a medal. She said after the race that the track didn’t suit her and it could be felt on her. She was stiffened as soon as she started. they will have to evaluate in the team. praised the performance of Petra Velez-Zuzulová, who fought under the Olympic rings four times.

“Rather, I think it was from her personal feelings. She wasn’t feeling well and she wasn’t sure. She couldn’t relax as she could and how she usually reacted in round 2. It just confirmed her words that she didn’t like the snow. Something there is also pressure, but when we look at it, in the second round it was the same as in the first. So the mistake was somewhere else. ” she reacted to Vlhová’s words after the races, in which Slovenka expressed herself in a sporty way that she simply did not have the best riders today.

“Not everything was lost in the 2nd round. Lara Gutová-Behrami finished in third place and the difference between her and Petra was not big. I believed that Petra would make it to the medal.” the expert pointed out the fact that Vlhová lost only 27 hundreds to the bronze medalist Gutová-Behrami before the second round.

She wouldn’t want to be in her place

The experienced 37-year-old Velez-Zuzulová Vlhová does not envy the position in which she finds herself after Petra’s unsuccessful image: “I don’t want to be in her place. She’s the only sportswoman everyone expects a medal from. She’s really under a lot of pressure, but maybe she can help her. I believe she’ll forget about it as soon as possible. It’s useless to analyze it.”

Vlhová will now need the support of every Slovak fan to whom Velez-Zuzulová sent a clear message at the end of the interview: “A Slovak fan can be very supportive and kind, but also very tough. I believe that people take it as sporty as she does. She needs it now. She doesn’t need any experts here. She needs to be encouraged to believe that she will do everything for it. to bring a medal. “

• The author: © List
• Source: RTVS, Sports