Italian Skier Becomes Olympic Champion, Recovering from Severe Fracture in Less Than a Year
35-year-old Italian skier Federica Brignone sensationally won the super-G competition at her home Olympics. Until the last moment, it was unclear if she would even be able to compete at the Games.
Federica Brignone. Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
After a terrible fall in April 2025, Brignone suffered fractures of the tibia and fibula and a torn cruciate ligament. She dedicated almost a year to rehabilitation and only got back on skis two weeks before the start of the Games.
The competitions in Cortina d'Ampezzo took place in very difficult conditions — snow and fog significantly complicated the track. Many favorites failed to finish. However, Brignone showed the best result on her home track — 1.23.41. Second place was taken by the Frenchwoman Romane Miradoli, and third by the Austrian Cornelia Hütter.
Given what the athlete had to go through, her brother and coach, Davide Brignone, couldn't hold back his emotions. He repeatedly emphasized that returning after such an injury requires great patience and willpower, and pain is part of the recovery process.
Federica had previously been a three-time Olympic medalist: in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea, she won silver, and in 2022 — two bronzes. She only lacked a gold medal for a complete set of awards, which she now also has.