Brignone completes miracle comeback with Olympic super-G gold at Milano Cortina
Federica Brignone delivered the run of her life to win women’s super-G gold at Milano Cortina, triumphing just 10 months after a career-threatening leg injury. The Italian flag bearer stopped the clock in 1:23.41, a mark no rival could match on a course that punished even the boldest contenders.
A golden run on a brutal course
Starting with bib 6, Brignone attacked a set bristling with traps and high-speed turns. Precision on the most exposed sections proved decisive as a wave of early starters skied out. Five of the first nine racers failed to finish, including major threats who misread the rhythm or pushed beyond the line. Brignone’s line on the big, open curves was clinical, her tempo unbroken through the key transitions that caught out several favorites.
Her time of 1:23.41 became the target; no one got within striking distance once she crossed. The home crowd roared as split after split stayed red for her pursuers.
Podium picture and Italian depth
France’s Romane Miradoli earned silver, 0.41 seconds back, with Austria’s Cornelia Huetter taking bronze at 0.52. Italy’s depth was on display all the way down the sheet: Laura Pirovano finished fifth at 0.76, and Elena Curtoni was seventh at 0.77. The day also brought heartbreak for Sofia Goggia, who went out midway after landing too deep off the Duca d’Aosta jump. She had been fast at the second split, pushing the limits in front of a fervent home crowd.
The test was unforgiving across the field. American skier Breezy Johnson crashed hard into the safety nets after a catch of an edge; medical staff attended promptly. Several favorites never found rhythm on the demanding middle section, where subtle terrain changes magnified the consequences of the smallest technical error.
Ten months, one plate, countless hours: the road back
Brignone’s victory lands 315 days after a devastating crash on April 3, 2025, that left her with a comminuted tibial plateau fracture and fibular head damage in her left leg, along with an ACL tear. She underwent immediate surgery, leaving the operating room with a plate fixed by multiple screws and a long, diagonal scar as a stark reminder.
The comeback was relentless and methodical. In the early weeks, she could not bear weight; summer brought gradually rising loads and carefully staged return-to-movement blocks. She based her rehab in Turin, surrounded by a trusted medical and physio team, and received practical day-to-day advice from peers who had traveled similar roads. From morning until late afternoon, the schedule left little room for anything beyond physiotherapy, strength work, and recovery. Step by step, the power returned, then the reactivity, then the courage to ski at full speed again.
A complete Olympic set—and a career-defining moment
At 35, Brignone now owns the full set of Olympic medals. Gold in Cortina joins the silver in giant slalom and bronze in combined from Beijing 2022, and the giant slalom bronze from PyeongChang 2018. Already one of Italy’s most decorated alpine athletes, she adds a crowning achievement in front of home fans—one that will stand alongside her World Cup triumphs and championships as the defining image of her career.
Brignone kept her emotions contained until the job was done. Then came a measured smile that told the longer story. She said she had set out simply to ski at her limit, embracing an all-or-nothing mindset. “I just tried to do my best—either it works or it doesn’t,” she said. “Becoming Olympic champion is something I never imagined. It feels special.”
What comes next
With momentum from a flawless super-G, Brignone positions herself as a force for the remaining alpine events at Milano Cortina. The Italian camp leaves the mountain with a gold medal, two more top-seven finishes, and the belief that on home snow they can handle pressure and pace. For Brignone, the message is simpler: the leg has been tested at the highest level—and passed. The rest of the week now looks different for everyone chasing her.
