Federica Brignone, Italy’s Olympic medal hopeful, has been sidelined after a devastating crash in the giant slalom at the Italian Championships on Thursday. The 34-year-old, fresh off her historic World Cup victory, suffered multiple leg fractures and ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) when her legs became entangled at a gate during the race in Val di Fassa.
Brignone was airlifted to a hospital in Trento, where it was confirmed she sustained a multi-fragmentary compound fracture of the tibial plateau and the fibula head in her left leg. Following successful surgery, it was discovered that she had also ruptured her ACL, which will require further evaluation.
The injury comes as a huge blow to Brignone’s Olympic aspirations, as she was a leading contender for gold in Alpine skiing at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 2026. This crash, occurring after an already successful season, which included her securing the overall World Cup title and winning the giant slalom and downhill titles, now casts uncertainty on her future preparations for the Games.
Brignone’s recovery will take months, marking a significant setback for the veteran skier, who had gained widespread admiration for her performance at the World Championships earlier this year, where she claimed gold in giant slalom.
Source: Swifteradio.com
