Petra Vlhová is Athlete of the Year for the fourth time

Skier Petra Vlhová and the national ice hockey team won the best individual and best team awards in the Slovak Athlete of the Year 2022 poll. Vlhová defended last year's first place and also triumphed for the fourth time in a row. The second place went to hockey player Juraj Slafkovský, the third was athlete Ján Volko. The results of the traditional poll of the Club of Sports Editors were announced by the Slovak Syndicate of Journalists at a gala dinner. The event was co-organised by the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee (SOŠV) and the Slovak Paralympic Committee (SPV) in Bratislava's Gate One Hotel. 115 sports journalists and members of the SSN Sports Editors Club (KŠR) voted in the poll. 45 individuals and 12 teams received votes. The poll has been announced since 1993. Petra Vlhová was the first in the 30-year history of the poll to triumph four times in a row. The number of triumphs is equal to the next Olympic champion Michal Martikán. Only Martina Moravcova has more titles, she has 6 titles. The twenty-seven-year-old skier also has a share of one victory in the team category, when she was a member of the mixed team in 2017. She had a successful year in 2022, winning Olympic gold and also winning the small crystal globe for slalom. "2022 was probably the most special year for me. I fulfilled a big lifelong dream and became an Olympic champion. Besides the successes, it is also important for me that I am healthy and doing what I enjoy," said Vlhová, who made it into the top 10 of the Athlete of the Year poll for the seventh time.