Edward Marchesi Next weekend marks the start of the Ski World Cup on the Rettenbach Glacier in Sölden. However, the starting line will not feature Italian champion Federica Brignone , who is still recovering from a serious left leg injury .
Eight months after her two gold medals in Milan-Cortina, the skier is dealing with a pain that shows no signs of going away.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, he hinted that, although his mobility has improved since the August surgery, " I'll have permanent after-effects ." His goal, at least for now, is to be able to move around without pain.
The April 2025 accident and the rehabilitation process
On April 3, 2025, during the Italian Championships in Val di Fassa , Brignone suffered a fall in the second run of the giant slalom, suffering a fractured tibia and fibula as well as serious injuries to his left knee.
Ten months later, against all odds, he won two gold medals at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, but the trauma didn't subside. On August 25, he returned to the operating room for the removal of the plate and screws previously inserted.
“ I haven't had a normal life for a year and a half ,” declared the skier, underlining that her recovery, although advanced, does not yet allow her to return to competition.
When asked about a return date, Brignone responded cautiously: “It takes time. I want to get back to doing what I love, but only when I'm really well.”
Italian absences in Sölden and hopes for the other Azzurri
Brignone's absence adds to that of Sofia Goggia , still struggling with a double viral infection contracted in Argentina. To fill the void, the federation has turned to Laura Pirovano , last season's downhill champion, and Marta Bassino , returning after a full season out due to a tibial plateau fracture in her left leg. Bassino sees her debut in Sölden as a chance to bounce back from a difficult period and revitalize her personal ambitions.
Other names are emerging in the Italian squad. Lara Della Mea and Asja Zenere showed strong performances in Cortina, while Alex Vinatzer remains the main hope for the slalom. In the men's field, Marco Odermatt is the favorite, but the fight for the Crystal Globe could also involve Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen , a former Norwegian, now in good form.
Advice to Jannik Sinner and Brignone's sporting projects
Over the summer, at J Medical in Turin , Brignone met tennis player Jannik Sinner . He advised the young man to take all the time he needed to heal, admitting that he had often underestimated his body's signals . " My advice is to take the time it needs ," he said, recalling his own painful experiences.
Outside of skiing, Brignone has experimented with alternative sports. Before surgery, she tried kitesurfing in Sardinia, but her physical condition prevented her from progressing. She also went downhill mountain biking, calling it " a preparatory sport, especially from a mental standpoint ," capable of providing an adrenaline rush similar to skiing. Surfing is another dream, but she admits that " I would need a house on the ocean " to practice it regularly. The activity she misses most remains tennis , which is still inaccessible due to knee limitations.
Brignone's story was also told in a documentary titled " Federica – The Last Olympics ," presented at the Rome Film Fest. The cameras followed her journey from rehabilitation to winning two gold medals, transforming her experience into a cinematic narrative.