Federica Brignone's Emotional Return: Sixth Place in Kronplatz Comeback Race

Federica Brignone is back after her injury nightmare, finishing sixth in an emotional return to the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit just weeks ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The Italian skier spent nearly 300 days on the sidelines with a leg fracture suffered last April, but looked fluid on her return on Tuesday (20 January) in a giant slalom race in Kronplatz, Italy. She was seventh after the first run, and moved up a spot to finish sixth after the second run, with a total time of 2:21.08, in a race won by Austria’s Julia Scheib. “I’m very happy, I’ve broken the ice,” she had told Italian broadcaster Rai after her first run, but the full weight of what she had accomplished did not hit her until after the second, when she broke down in tears. “Crossing the finish line with the green light makes me so happy, after all the emotions I've experienced today,” she told Rai of her second run, which temporarily moved her into the lead with six skiers competing after her, five of whom managed to pass her. “I think I'll stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo and train hard in the speed disciplines,” the 35-year-old added. “I need to learn to be more daring; I'm still lacking a bit of confidence. I'm doing two corners well and then I brake on the following one. "I'm leaving this place very happy, I don't know with how much confidence, but I'm definitely happy.”