Petra Vlhova wins first ever Olympic gold after big rival Mikaela Shiffrin crashes in first run at Winter Olympics

Petra Vlhova has won her first ever Olympic gold at the Yangqing Alpine Skiing Centre, after big rival Mikaela Shiffrin crashed out in the first run. It's a day to cherish for Vlhova and for Slovakia, who win their first ever Alpine gold. Ad/> Vlhova, who finished the first run in eighth, knew she had to play catch-up going into the second run and she delivered.

Her aggressive run saw her produce a gold medal-winning time of 1:44.98. Beijing 2022Intrigue as team figure skating medal ceremony delayed over 'legal issue'2 HOURS AGO Beijing 2022 LIVE Beijing 2022 schedule, big names, key events Slalom world champion Katherina Liensberger was up next but she could not beat the Slovakian, making a handful of errors which saw her finish 0.08 seconds behind on 1:45.06, but it would ensure the Austrian would win the silver medal. Switzerland's Wendy Holdener could not believe it as she failed to close the gap, finishing in 1:45.10, but she did scoop up the bronze.

/> «Olympic champion sounds incredible,» Vlhova told Eurosport afterwards. «I can't believe it. I am super happy because I become an Olympic champion and it sounds incredible.

»After the first run I was a little bit down because I did not ski well. I did not have a good feeling but second run I gave everything I could to do it and at the end I won the Olympic Games. «I can't describe all those emotions because they are so high.

After the first run you are a little bit down and all my team, my brother they believe in me. They believe that I can be really strong in slalom and I just listened to them and tried to do my best. »It's a lot of pressure because I am alone.