In a remarkable display of resilience and skill, Italian alpine skier Federica Brignone has captured two gold medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, triumphing in both the women’s Super-G and Giant Slalom events on the iconic Tofane slopes in her hometown of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The 35-year-old, affectionately nicknamed the “Snow Tiger,” first claimed victory in the Super-G earlier this week, powering through challenging conditions to secure her first Olympic gold in the discipline. She followed up with an even more dominant performance in the women’s Giant Slalom on Sunday, finishing with a combined two-run time of 2:13.50 to win by a convincing 0.62 seconds.
Sweden’s Sara Hector and Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund tied for silver with times of 2:14.12, resulting in no bronze medal being awarded. American star Mikaela Shiffrin finished 11th in the event.
Brignone’s achievements mark one of the most inspiring comebacks in recent Olympic history. In April 2025, she suffered a severe leg injury—including multiple fractures in her tibia and fibula, a complete knee dislocation, and damage to ligaments and menisci—during a crash at the Italian National Championships. Doctors initially feared a recovery timeline exceeding two years, with concerns she might not walk properly again, let alone compete at an elite level.
Yet, after nearly 300 days sidelined, Brignone returned to competitive racing in January 2026 and built momentum just weeks before the Games. Racing without the burden of expectations, she credited her success to a sense of freedom on the snow. “Skiing without pressure was key,” she said post-race. “I felt complete freedom and performed at my best.”
Her victories sparked jubilation across Italy, with passionate home crowds lining the course and filling the finish area. In a memorable show of respect, silver medalists Hector and Stjernesund knelt and bowed to Brignone in the finish corral after her Giant Slalom win.
At 35, Brignone has now become one of Italy’s most decorated female Olympic alpine skiers, adding these two golds to her impressive career resume and solidifying her legacy as the “Queen of Cortina.”
