A Fragile Return to the Slopes
Federica Brignone is facing a grueling reality check. Despite a triumphant appearance at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics—where she secured gold in both the super-G and giant slalom—the Italian alpine skier confirmed she is still battling the aftermath of the severe leg injury she suffered in April 2025. Even as she accepted the Ambrogino d’oro in Milan, the athlete admitted that persistent pain and mobility limitations have cast doubt on her ability to compete in the upcoming season.
The Limitations of a Mended Body
Brignone’s training regimen is a shadow of its former intensity. In an interview with L’Équipe, reported by Adnkronos, she detailed the stark difference between her current physical state and her pre-injury form.
“I am training quite hard, but I am also continuing treatments,” Brignone told L’Équipe. “This spring was difficult; I had a lot of trouble walking again. I have been preparing since mid-May, but I am not doing at all what I was doing before the injury.”
While she has integrated swimming, cycling, and gym work into her daily life, running remains out of reach. Though her muscle mass is showing signs of improvement, the constant presence of pain complicates her plans for the year ahead.
August Tests and the Argentine Horizon
The path forward rests entirely on how her body handles the snow. Brignone has penciled in a return to skis for early August, with a trip to Ushuaia, Argentina, planned for September to rejoin the Italian national team.
“I don’t know yet if I will be able to do the next season,” Brignone stated. “If I suffer as much as I did last season, it won’t be bearable. At the Olympics, I arrived having skied for barely a month and a half. This time I am preparing as if I want to do the whole season. But I don’t know if I’ll make it: we will make the right decisions when it is necessary.”
Living with the Aftermath of 2025
The injury—a broken tibia and fibula sustained at the Italian national championships—altered the trajectory of her career. While she is undoubtedly in a better position than she was a year ago, when even basic mobility was a struggle, she remains pragmatic about the permanent damage.
“My body will never fully recover,” she acknowledged. As she undergoes further medical evaluations, her future in elite competition will be defined by her ability to manage the physical toll of a sport that demands everything from a body that is no longer whole.
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