Brignone delivers strong return from injury with Olympics just weeks away

Defending overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone has made an encouraging return to competitive skiing after a long spell on the sidelines, delivering a solid performance as the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics draw ever closer.

Racing at Kronplatz in San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy, Brignone competed in her first World Cup event in nine months following a serious injury and showed she is already capable of challenging near the front. With the Olympics now little more than two weeks away, her comeback provided a significant boost both for herself and for the Italian team.

While Brignone’s return was one of the main storylines of the day, Austria’s Julia Scheib once again proved she is the woman to beat in giant slalom this season. Scheib produced a strong second run to climb from third place after the opening leg and secure her fourth GS victory of the campaign. She finished 0.37 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Camille Rast, with Sweden’s Sara Hector — the reigning Olympic giant slalom champion — another 0.09 seconds further back in third. Hector had led after the first run but was unable to hold on under pressure.

American star Mikaela Shiffrin continued her gradual progress in giant slalom, finishing fourth, 0.86 seconds behind Scheib. Brignone crossed the line in sixth place, 1.23 seconds off the winning time, a result that underlined just how competitive her comeback already looks given the severity of her injury and the length of her absence.

For Brignone, the day was about far more than finishing position. The Italian admitted the emotional challenge of returning to racing was immense after such a long and demanding recovery process. She described feeling overwhelmed at the start but relieved and proud to see her name light up green on the timing board.

“It was extremely difficult emotionally,” Brignone said. “After nine very tough months, I’m proud of myself. Everything felt new again, especially the emotions. I’m really happy I decided to race here instead of waiting for the Olympics, because that would probably have been too much all at once.”

Scheib’s rise this season continues to be one of the standout stories in women’s alpine skiing. The 27-year-old Austrian had never won a World Cup race before this winter, but her consistency and confidence have transformed her into a dominant force in giant slalom. With four wins already, she now leads the discipline standings by a healthy 139-point margin over Rast, putting her firmly in control as the season heads toward its climax.

Shiffrin, meanwhile, remains in a rebuilding phase in GS. Despite holding the all-time record with 107 World Cup victories across all disciplines, the American has now gone exactly two years without a podium finish in giant slalom. Her last top-three result came before a serious crash in Killington, Vermont, in November 2024, an incident that significantly disrupted her momentum in the discipline.

Kronplatz is a venue filled with memories for Shiffrin. She won the race there three times in the past, including in 2023 when her victory marked World Cup win number 83 — the moment she surpassed Lindsey Vonn’s long-standing record for the most women’s World Cup wins. This time, however, she had to settle for fourth as she continues her push back toward peak GS form.

Brignone’s performance was particularly remarkable given the extent of the injuries she suffered last April. She broke multiple bones in her left leg, injuries severe enough to require two surgeries and 42 stitches. Months of intense rehabilitation followed, casting doubt over whether she would be able to return in time for the Olympic season at all.

She revealed just how uncertain she felt at the start of the race, admitting her nerves were visible even before pushing out of the start gate. “When I put my poles in, I thought, ‘I’m not sure I’m ready,’” she said. “My hand was shaking. I skied quite stiff at the beginning, which made things harder in these conditions. Then after the first checkpoint, I reminded myself to breathe, and it started to feel better.”

Rather than rushing straight into a full racing schedule, Brignone has chosen a cautious and calculated approach in the coming days. She will skip the next set of technical races in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, opting instead to head to Cortina d’Ampezzo for speed training. Cortina will host the women’s alpine events at the upcoming Olympics, making it an ideal place for her to rebuild confidence and familiarity.

“I want to understand whether I’m really able to race,” Brignone explained. “I still need more confidence so I can fully attack. At the moment, I make two or three really good turns and then I hesitate on the next one. But I’m leaving here happy and confident, which is the most important thing.”

The race also featured mixed fortunes for other top competitors. Italy’s Sofia Goggia suffered a setback when she lost control midway through her first run and failed to finish. For the United States, Paula Moltzan delivered a solid performance to finish eighth, while 20-year-old Elisabeth Bocock impressed with a career-best 12th place.

Another American, Nina O’Brien, showed promising speed during her second run before losing control on a steep section of the course. She spun and slid down the slope, eventually stopping near the safety fencing. Fortunately, she was able to stand up immediately and appeared to avoid any serious injury.

Overall, the race offered a compelling mix of dominant form from Scheib, steady progress from Shiffrin, and an emotionally charged but promising return from Brignone — all unfolding with the Olympic spotlight growing brighter by the day.