Federica Brignone suffered a heavy fall. © ANSA / PHOTO ELVIS GP PIAZZI/SOLERO

Brignone's injury and the update after the operation

All of Italy's skiing community was left breathless on Thursday: The grande dame of Italian skiing suffered an injury at the national championships. Now, there's more information about the injuries and some good news following the surgery.

03 April 2025

From: do

Federica Brignone has had an absolute dream season. In addition to winning the overall ranking and the small crystal globes in the giant slalom and downhill, she also took home World Championship gold in the giant slalom. Things couldn't have gone much better for the 34-year-old. She capped off her season at the Italian Championships in Val di Fassa – but that's exactly where her dream turned into a nightmare: During a right turn, her arm caught on the gate, she fell and had to be taken to hospital by helicopter. Now the attending physician Andrea Panzeri has spoken out – with bad news.

"She had a really bad fall and suffered a compound fracture with significant bone damage. We'll operate on Thursday evening," Panzeri explained. The injury affects the upper tibia (tibial plateau) and the fibula head—a complex fracture that presents the medical team with significant challenges.

The helicopter was in use. © ANSA / PHOTO ELVIS GP PIAZZI/SOLERO

Nevertheless, the doctor sees a small mental advantage for the Azzurra: "Fortunately, she has never been seriously injured so far. Some who experience this often react differently. She was optimistic. She accepted the situation as it was—like the great champion she is."

When asked about the surgery, Panzeri declined to provide specific details, but emphasized that the procedure would take about two hours and that the team first needed to get a complete picture of the injury. "It's a real challenge, I won't deny that. We hope everything goes well and everything clears up. We'll see."

The Azzurra faces a long period of suffering. © ANSA / PHOTO ELVIS GP PIAZZI/SOLERO

The timing of the injury is at least a small ray of hope: Brignone won't miss too much in the coming months, but she will likely have to cut back on her preparations for the upcoming 2025/26 Olympic season. "It's a matter of months," Panzeri said when asked about the recovery time. Whether and in what form the Azzurra will be able to compete at the 2026 Olympic Games on home soil will only become clear during the long road back. But if Brignone has proven one thing in her career, it's that she's a fighter.

Late update after surgery

Late in the evening, a brief update came from the FISI. The surgery, performed by the medical team including Andrea Panzeri, Riccardo Accetta, Gabriele Thiebat, and Alberto Zangrillo, was successful. The fractures below the knee were stabilized and the ligaments in the inner knee area were repaired. A cruciate ligament tear was also diagnosed, which will be monitored further in the near future. Brignone will begin rehabilitation in the coming days.