Federica Brignone, racing under challenging conditions, captured the gold medal in the Olympic Super-G in Cortina. The Italian skier's victory is particularly remarkable given her recent recovery from a severe leg fracture sustained in April at the Italian championships. The race, held on the Tofane course, saw France’s Romane Miradoli take silver and Austria’s Cornelia Hütter secure the bronze.
The Super-G in Cortina presented racers with difficult conditions, including fog and snowfall. According to snowbrains.com, the challenging course, combined with poor visibility, led to a high attrition rate, with nearly half the field failing to finish. Rollers, blind gates, and tight combinations tested the athletes' skills and precision.
Brignone, who had not participated in any Super-G World Cup races during the 2025-26 season due to lingering pain from her injury, delivered a stellar performance. According to her post-race comments, she focused on clean turns and letting her skis perform. Her time of 1:23.41 put her well ahead of the competition.
Key moments from the race, according to snowbrains.com:
- Malorie Blanc of Switzerland initially set the benchmark.
- Italy’s Laura Pirovano briefly took the lead.
- Several top contenders, including Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Mirjam Puchner, did not finish.
- Emma Aicher, Ester Ledecká, and Sofia Goggia also recorded DNFs.
Miradoli expressed the significance of her silver medal, emphasizing perseverance. Hütter's bronze medal added to Austria's medal count in alpine skiing.
Jackie Wiles was the top finisher for the United States, placing 13th, with Keely Cashman following in 15th. Breezy Johnson, another American racer, did not finish the race but experienced a joyous moment when her fiancé, Connor Watkins, proposed to her at the finish line.
Brignone's gold medal is her first Olympic gold, adding to her previous collection of Olympic medals. At 35, she is now the oldest female Olympic medalist, surpassing Lindsey Vonn's previous record. The podium reflected the value of experience, with all three medalists over the age of 30.
The women’s alpine events now shift to giant slalom and slalom.
