Winter Olympics: Italian star seals glory months after ‘horror’ leg break
Federica Brignone has completed an astonishing comeback to win Olympic super-G gold on home snow, less than a year after a crash left her with multiple leg fractures.
The 35-year-old conquered the Olimpia delle Tofane course to claim the first Olympic title of her illustrious career.
It marks a fairytale redemption for the veteran, who required two surgeries and only returned to competitive action in late January.
Chaos in Cortina
Poor visibility caused havoc among the favourites, with 17 of the 43 starters failing to finish the treacherous course.
Germany’s Emma Aicher and defending champion Ester Ledecka were among the high-profile casualties on a day of high attrition.
Local hope and World Cup leader Sofia Goggia also crashed out, leaving the home crowd momentarily silenced.
Starting sixth, Brignone flung herself down the icy slope, relying on her technical precision to navigate a daredevil run.
Her aggressive approach paid off as she crossed the line 0.41 seconds ahead of France’s Romane Miradoli.
Austria’s Cornelia Huetter completed the podium, finishing 0.52 seconds off the pace to take bronze.
“I told myself that it was a ‘make it or break it’, but I never thought I would win,” said Brignone.
“Something special, I would never have imagined it in life.”
Overcoming the odds
The victory comes after a devastating accident at the Italian national championships last April resulted in a torn ACL and broken bones.
Her recovery was grueling, involving months of intense rehabilitation to rebuild strength in her left leg.
Pain levels remained so high that during the recent Opening Ceremony, fellow athlete Amos Mosaner carried the flagbearer on his shoulders.
“Today I was an underdog,” she admitted. “I was an outsider, but I know what I can do with my skis.”
The triumph secures Italy’s first Alpine skiing gold of these Games.
It also cements the Milan-born racer’s legacy, as she equals Deborah Compagnoni as the country’s most decorated female Olympian skier with four medals.
Brignone had previously won giant slalom silver in Beijing and bronze in Pyeongchang, alongside an Alpine combined bronze in 2022.