Federica Brignone wants to walk before considering the Olympics the following year.

Federica Brignone’s career took a dramatic turn on April 3, 2025, when the 34‑year‑old Italian skiing star suffered a devastating crash during the giant slalom at the Italian National Championships in Val di Fassa. Fresh from clinching her second overall World Cup title and giant slalom gold at the World Championships, Brignone’s triumphant season came to an abrupt halt when her skis tangled at a gate, sending her tumbling out of control . The crash left her with a multi‑fragmentary compound fracture of the tibial plateau and fibular head, as well as a ruptured ACL, injuries that required emergency surgery in Milan and raised immediate doubts about her ability to compete in next year’s Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics . Discharged from La Madonnina clinic on April 8, Brignone has set her sights on the simplest goal: to walk again before even contemplating a return to the slopes . Medical experts estimate that full recovery—and the all‑important return to ski training—will hinge on how her physiotherapy progresses, with initial timelines suggesting at least four to five months before she might don skis again, and up to nine months for a complete ACL reconstruction recovery .

Background and Career Highlights

Meteoric Rise in 2024–25 Season

Federica Brignone entered the 2024–25 season in peak form, dominating across multiple disciplines to secure her second overall World Cup crown at age 34—the oldest skier, male or female, to claim that honor . In addition to the overall title, she won the giant slalom and downhill globes, and followed those triumphs by capturing giant slalom gold at the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, in February 2025 .

The Crash at the Italian Championships

On April 3, 2025, during the second run of the women’s giant slalom at Val di Fassa, Brignone straddled a gate after posting the fastest first run time. She was catapulted off course, her legs becoming entangled and causing a violent fall. Airlifted first to Trento and then transferred to Milan, she left the slopes with season‑ending injuries and a cloud of uncertainty over her Olympic aspirations .

Nature of Injuries and Surgical Intervention

Complex Fractures and ACL Rupture

Diagnostic imaging revealed a complex, multi‑fragmentary fracture of the tibial plateau and fibular head in her left leg, compounded by a full ACL rupture . Such fractures often carry long‑term implications for joint health, including the risk of post‑traumatic osteoarthritis and diminished stability.

Emergency Surgery and Deferred ACL Repair

At Milan’s La Madonnina clinic, surgeons stabilized her leg with plates and screws and addressed the fractures, but deferred definitive ACL reconstruction until the bone had sufficiently healed . “I thought it was going to be a normal surgery. But what the doctors did was extraordinary. They minimized waiting times and avoided complications, which was crucial,” Brignone told reporters upon her discharge on April 8 .

Early Recovery and Rehabilitation

Discharge and Initial Outlook

Five days post‑operation, Brignone left the hospital under her own power, albeit in a wheelchair. “I still don’t know how long it will take (to return),” she admitted. “We’ll go step by step. The next step is post‑operation therapy and we’ll start Monday. And then we’ll see how the bone reacts and we’ll take it from there” .

Medical Timelines and Physiotherapy Milestones

According to the Italian Winter Sports Federation, Brignone will undergo follow‑up tests 45 days after surgery to evaluate bone healing and plan ACL reconstruction . Andrea Panzeri, head of the federation’s medical staff, cautioned that a clearer timeline would emerge only after those evaluations, but indicated it would be “at least 45 days” before any ski‑specific training could be contemplated .

Focus on Walking and Small Steps

Rather than setting her sights immediately on skis or medals, Brignone has broken her recovery into manageable milestones: first to walking, then to weight‑bearing rehab, and only later to skiing drills. “Step by step. First, I’m thinking about walking again, and then we’ll see about the rest,” she said .

Psychological Resilience and Support Network

Positive Mindset

Known for her optimistic outlook, Brignone has rejected negativity despite the severity of her injuries. “Useless to think negatively. I’m just trying to think positively and get through it the best way possible,” she declared during a video‑linked media day .

Teammate Solidarity

Teammate Sofia Goggia—herself a comeback queen after multiple ligament injuries—reached out immediately. “We spoke that very day she hurt herself,” Goggia recounted. Drawing on her own experience of returning from torn ligaments to Olympic gold, she offered both practical and emotional support .

Implications for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Olympics

Brignone’s home Games are just ten months away, and her absence would represent a significant blow to Italy’s medal hopes in alpine skiing . While four to five months may suffice for basic rehab, an isolated ACL reconstruction typically demands six to nine months before return to high‑level competition , and tibial plateau fractures often require four to six months for bone healing plus additional time for full functional recovery . Even if Brignone achieves an early return, her skiing technique and confidence on race‑speed courses may be affected.

Sports‑Medicine Perspective

• ACL Reconstruction Timeline: Most skiers require six to nine months of rigorous rehab post‑ACL surgery before safely returning to competition .
• Tibial Plateau Fracture Healing: Surgical fixation of tibial plateau fractures typically achieves bone union by four months, with full recovery extending to a year in some elite athletes .
• Psychological Recovery: Less than half of skiers return to their pre‑injury performance levels after complex tibial plateau fractures, highlighting the mental as well as physical challenges of recovery .

Conclusion

Federica Brignone’s decision to “walk before thinking of next year’s Olympics” underscores both the severity of her injuries and her strategic approach to rehabilitation. With world‑class medical care, a stepwise recovery plan, and the mental fortitude that has defined her career, Brignone embodies the resilience necessary for an elite athlete’s comeback. Whether she can physically and mentally rejoin the World Cup circuit in time for Milan‑Cortina 2026 remains uncertain, but her meticulous focus on incremental goals—foot by foot, step by step—offers the best path toward reclaiming her spot among the world’s skiing elite.