Italian Alpine skiing icon Federica Brignone is standing at a career crossroads. Following a historic performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics where she defied the odds to secure two gold medals, the 35-year-old superstar recently told Olympics.com that if she returns to the starting gate next year, it will likely be for her final season.
Speaking exclusively to Olympics.com during the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Brignone admitted that while her spirit remains high, her physical recovery is far from complete. Meanwhile Brignone’s journey to the top of the podium in her home country is being hailed as nothing short of a miracle. Just 10 months before the Games, a horrific crash at the Italian Championships left the skier with multiple broken bones in her left leg.
“After my injury last year, I didn’t even know if I would be able to ski again in my life,” Brignone shared with Olympics.com. Despite the doubt, she managed to claim gold in both the super-G and giant slalom, an achievement she described as “unexpected” given her daily battle with pain. Even during her golden runs at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, Brignone revealed she “felt terrible” and could barely warm up on her skis due to the agony.
Since the Games, Brignone has become a national hero, meeting with President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo XIV while appearing in a flurry of commercials. However, she has said that these high-profile distractions have become an obstacles to recovery, noting that the demands of fame have made it difficult to maintain the consistency required for her rehabilitation.
Currently, Brignone is back to a strict rehab regimen for her leg. Her decision to return for a 2026-27 season hinges entirely on how her body responds to treatment.
“Right now, it all depends on my health and my leg,” she admitted. “If I show up, it will probably be my last season.”
The Italian “Tiger” also touched on the camaraderie within the skiing world, specifically regarding Lindsey Vonn’s difficult comeback and subsequent crash in the Milano Cortina downhill. Brignone told Olympics.com that she reached out to Vonn with messages of encouragement, empathizing deeply with the American’s struggle. Having spent months on crutches herself, Brignone understands the loss of independence that comes with such severe injuries.
For Brignone, the motivation to return lies in the fact that she has spent the last two years skiing at the highest level of her career. Whether she finds the desire and motivation for one final “last dance” remains a question only her recovery can answer.
- Related: The World Cup Ski Racer Who Wasn’t as Lucky as Lindsey Vonn: Amputee Matthias Lanzinger’s Story
