Federica Brignone couldn't believe it herself. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

"All or nothing": Ewige Brignone makes the impossible possible

Federica Brignone made history on Thursday, crowning herself Olympic champion in the Super-G in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Tears flowed at the Olimpia delle Tofane, and a ski legend spoke out.

February 12, 2026

From: never

When even the last big names in the field couldn't get close to her, it gradually dawned on Federica Brignone: Gold in the Super-G It was within reach. All eyes and cameras were now focused on the Italian superstar, the athletes at the Olimpia delle Tofane faded into the background. "I saw my brothers and my mother crying," she later recalled. Eurosport ItalyHer family was not alone in this; Brignone herself shed more tears with each new starting number.

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“I’m speechless. I don’t know how it happened,” said the 35-year-old, who, after two bronze and one silver medal at the Winter Games, finally stood atop the podium. And at her home Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, no less. “I was just focused on skiing, on giving it my all. But I never thought I could win. ‘All or nothing’ – that was my motto today.”

From outsider to career crowning achievement

Looking back at the two-time world champion's impressive record in the distant future, this gold medal will seem like the logical consequence of an unparalleled career. Except this triumph had nothing to do with logic. Ten months earlier, Brignone was in the hospital with a broken tibia and fibula, as well as a torn cruciate ligament. Many athletes her age would have thrown in the towel or at least given themselves a year to recover. But not Brignone. For her, that was the start of the countdown to the Olympic Games on home soil.

Federica Brignone with her gold medal. © APA/afp / STEFANO RELLANDINI

It was a race against time, the outcome of which remained completely uncertain until the very end. She only returned to the big stage on January 20th at the World Cup in Kronplatz, where she astonished everyone with a phenomenal sixth place in the giant slalom. A week later, she finished 18th in the Super-G in Crans-Montana. A phenomenal result given the circumstances, but the Winter Games seemed to have come too soon.

"I saw myself as an outsider and was able to approach things calmly. I knew that I had already achieved so much." Federico Brignone

“I never would have thought I’d win the gold medal,” admitted Brignone, who finished tenth in Sunday’s downhill. “I saw myself as an underdog and was able to approach it calmly. I knew I’d already achieved so much.” But Brignone made the impossible possible.

Compagnoni stirred by Brignone gold

Deborah Compagnoni was the first Italian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the Super-G. And indeed, the three-time Olympic champion was right in the middle of the green, white, and red celebrations. "I was incredibly moved," the 55-year-old was told by Snow Italy He was quoted as saying, "When an athlete goes through what she has gone through, such success is unimaginable. She is truly a great athlete. I am very happy for her."

Federica Brignone is the Olympic champion in the Super-G. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

Alongside Compagnoni (Super-G 1992, Giant Slalom 1994 and 1998), Goggia (Downhill 2018), Daniela Ceccarelli (Super-G 2002) and Paoletta Magoni (Slalom 1984), the Azzurre now boast a fifth Olympic champion in Alpine skiing. And the fairytale may not be over yet.

On Sunday, Brignone will compete in her signature discipline, with the first run of the giant slalom scheduled for 10:00 a.m. (live on [channel name]). SportNews-Ticker). Perhaps she will then do the same as Compagnoni for the second time; at the latest since Thursday we know: This Brignone is capable of anything.