Federica Brignone, 35, Completes Human Triumph... Oldest Champion in Women's Alpine Ski History

This gold medal was forged by indomitable fighting spirit.

She has risen to become the oldest women's alpine skiing Olympic gold medalist in history. Italian women's alpine skiing veteran Federica Brignone, 35, who barely made it to the Olympic stage after overcoming a devastating injury, has completed a true human triumph.

Brignone Federica is cheering after being the first to cross the finish line in the women's super-G alpine skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Belluno, Italy = Reuters-Yonhap

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On the 12th (local time), at the Tofane Alpine Ski Center in Cortina, Italy, she clocked 1:23.41 in the women's alpine skiing super-G at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, crossing the finish line first ahead of Romane Miradoli of France (1:23.82) and Cornelia Huetter of Austria (1:23.93).

Brignone made her Olympic debut at the 2014 Sochi Games. She won a bronze medal in the giant slalom at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, then upgraded to silver in the same event at the 2022 Beijing Games. At last, by winning the super-G at these Games, she claimed the first gold medal of her career. She struck gold for the first time in her fourth Winter Olympics appearance. Brignone has now collected a total of four Olympic medals (one gold, one silver, and two bronze).

Brignone came close to missing these Games altogether because of a severe injury. In April last year, during the giant slalom at the 2025 Italian National Championships, she suffered a heavy crash and was diagnosed with multiple fractures in her left leg and a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. After enduring two surgeries and a grueling rehabilitation, Brignone only just returned to the slopes last month, and in less than a month she was hanging a gold medal around her neck.

Brignone Federica of Italy celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's alpine skiing super-G at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Belluno (Italy) - Photo by Reuters/Yonhap

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"Rather than being perfect, I focused on keeping the flow and skiing smoothly over the terrain," Brignone said with delight. "I did not expect a gold medal at all. Maybe that is why I was able to do it." She continued, "Today I was actually an underdog and an outsider, but I knew very well what I could do with my skis. It is really crazy. It still does not feel real," she added with a broad smile.

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