A “cat war” staged from the outside

The “cat war” has broken out between the Italian skiers Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia. A war that isn't actually a war. But a misunderstanding in which more is interpreted from the outside than is good. This time from Brignone's mother, the former world-class slalom runner Ninna Quario. In a statement widely reported in the Italian media, she said that “Fede and Sofia were never friends. Sofia is self-centered and always wants to be the center of attention. She needs the attention. My daughter is shy. They care less whether people like them or not.”

After her career, Quario “switched to the other side” and has been a journalist herself ever since. As such, she accompanies her daughter to almost all World Cup races and creates a family feel-good atmosphere together with her son Davide, who works as Federica Brignone's private trainer. Sofia Goggia cannot count on such support. Her parents Ezio and Giuliana never attend the races. They follow their daughter's career at a distance. Brignone's brother became a thorn in his side Three years ago, those responsible installed the so-called elite group among the Italian ski ladies, which included Marta Bassino alongside Brignone and Goggia. They wanted to make this trio capable of winning in all disciplines except for the slalom. What succeeded impressively: Brignone won the overall World Cup and 3 small crystal balls in 2020, Bassino won the giant slalom ball in 2, just as Goggia won the downhill ball in 2021 despite a serious injury. It was a direct hit in which the trio pushed themselves further and further up.

Brignone and her brother Davide.

Then Davide Brignone became more and more of a thorn in the side of the team. So from summer 2021, the Brignones were granted a private team that operated independently of the rest of the women's team and mostly trained with the men or other nations. Goggia and Bassino, who was far below her potential this year with two 3rd places, stayed together. Until Goggia's injury in the Super-G in Cortina d'Ampezzo. When parents interfere with children... A huge outcry followed, the whole of Italy suffered with the 29-year-old daredevil, who suffered a torn cruciate ligament in her left knee and a fracture in her fibula. There was a big question mark behind Olympia. But Goggia experienced a miraculous recovery and took downhill silver behind Corinne Suter just 23 days after her departure. Which prompted Brignone mom Ninna Quario to say that “Goggia’s injury couldn’t have been that bad. If you break your leg, you can't possibly go ski racing again after 23 days." Which may be true. But it also shows how explosive it is when parents interfere too much in the sporting interests of their children who ski or play sports. Because that doesn't make the internal climate any better. Wait and see what the future brings.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

A “cat war” staged from the outside

There's trouble in Italy's ski family! The focus is on the two alpha animals Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone. But what is really behind the tense relationship between the two superstars?

Suggestions

Comments (0)