Federica Brignone will miss the World Cup opener due to a serious injury. © ANSA / GIAN EHRENZELLER

Brignone on her fateful day: “Then everyone stops”

Federica Brignone is the one who's missing from the World Cup opening in Sölden – at least on the slopes. On Friday, the Italian spoke about her fateful day and her dream of the Olympics.

24 October 2025

From Sölden

At the beginning of April, Federica Brignone broke her tibia and fibula and tore her cruciate ligament at the Italian Championships in Val di Fassa. In the weeks prior, the Italian had dominated the World Cup, sweeping the crystal globes in downhill, giant slalom, and the overall standings. It was a bitter end to the season for the two-time world champion, whose dream of competing at the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo—right on her doorstep—suddenly threatened to shatter.

Some observers then asked themselves: Why did Brignone even take part in the national competitions, far away from the World Cup stage? On Friday afternoon, the Aostanian gave FIS Race Talk The answer to that question was in Sölden. "Because I've always done it, every season of my career," Brignone explained. "I also participate because of the young athletes. When I was a girl, I loved competing against the World Cup stars. That's important to me."

Brignone takes her role model function seriously

For a luminary like Brignone, it would have been easy to cancel her participation in the championships. But that's not how the two-time overall World Cup winner works. "If I don't participate, what kind of Italian championships are they then?" she emphasized her role model status. "That way I can set a good example. If I don't go, everyone will stop." She therefore shows no remorse, nor is she deterred by her injury. "If I can get back on skis this winter, I will definitely go again."

"My dream is to come back this season and see what happens. When? I don't know." Federico Brignone

Unlike Lara Gut-Behrami and Zrinka Ljutic, who, like Brignone, participated in the panel discussion, the Azzurra will not be competing in the World Cup opener in Sölden on Saturday (10:00 a.m./1:00 p.m.). "I'm not ready, as you can see," she laughed, but then gave an update on her recovery process. "Rehab is going really well, considering my injury. It was tough, painful, and boring. It's a fight, but I was ready to take it on – 100 percent."

Federica Brignone is diligently working on her comeback. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

The timing of her return, however, is still uncertain. "My dream is to come back this season and see what happens. When? I don't know," said Brignone, who is currently working on herself five to seven hours a day at the rehab center. She did have some good news, though: the first sessions on snow are already a possibility – at least in theory. "We're looking into when that will be possible. That's good news," she said. "But before that, I have to take a week off, something I haven't allowed myself since my last surgery."

Brignone and the Olympic dream

The question that interested everyone most at the end of her performance, however, was: Will she be good enough for the Olympic Games in February? "I don't know," Brignone admitted. "I'm trying and working really hard. If my body allows it, I'll get back to my old level." Finally, the 37-time World Cup winner emphasized that she's not forcing herself to make a comeback and therefore won't overdo it. "I've achieved a lot in my career; I don't have to compete this season or the Olympic Games – but I want to. My dream is to be in Cortina."