Ski superstar Federica Brignone. © AFP / TIZIANA FABI

Brignone refuses to talk about it: "I don't want to talk about that."

Many eyes were on Federica Brignone during Sunday's downhill race. In the end, the skier from Aosta was satisfied – and deflected a question in the mixed zone.

February 08, 2026

From Cortina d'Ampezzo

When superstar Federica Brignone stepped into the mixed zone after finishing tenth in the Olympic downhill, she did so with a certain pride. "When I think about how exhausted I was a few months ago, it's actually incredible that I raced the downhill here today," said the 35-year-old from Aosta. "I definitely felt it on the jumps, but I gave it my all, and that makes me happy."

Brignone was very talkative on this sunny day in Cortina d'Ampezzo, but she clammed up with a serious expression when asked what had gone through her mind when she I saw Lindsey Vonn's fall “I don’t want to talk about it, thank you,” Brignone said.

Federica Brignone finished tenth in the downhill. © APA/afp / STEFANO RELLANDINI

The reason is obvious. Less than a year ago, Brignone experienced a similar tragedy. After winning the Giant Slalom World Championship and the overall World Cup title, she suffered a brutal crash during a meaningless Italian Championship race. She tore her cruciate ligament and fractured bones in her leg. The fact that she's skiing at this level again today, that she even qualified for the Olympic Games, is nothing short of a miracle.

The ski world is worried about Vonn

Vonn suffered a brutal crash just seconds into Sunday's downhill race. A week after her crash in Crans-Montana, where the 41-year-old tore her ACL, her fall in the Olympic race was so severe that she had to be airlifted to hospital. The extent of Vonn's injuries is currently unknown.