Federica Brignone Clinches Gold in Giant Slalom at World Championships
Italian skier Federica Brignone has made headlines yet again, winning the gold medal in the giant slalom at the World Championships held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria. This latest triumph marks Brignone's fifth medal at the World Championships and her third in giant slalom, a discipline renowned for its technical challenges and demanding turns.
At 34 years old, Brignone is clearly enjoying one of the best seasons of her career. Already this year, she has claimed five victories on the World Cup circuit, showcasing her competitive edge in nearly every event she has entered. Prior to her gold medal performance, she secured a silver in the Super G at the same Championships, further solidifying her status as a leading athlete in her sport.
The giant slalom event consists of two runs, with the final results determined by combining the times of both runs. Brignone dominated the first run, finishing ahead of New Zealand’s Alice Robinson by 0.67 seconds and America’s Paula Moltzan by a staggering 1.24 seconds. In the second run, Brignone started last, a typical scenario for the leader after the first run. While Robinson had shown impressive speed, Brignone proved even quicker, clocking the fastest time of the second run and ultimately finishing with a commanding lead of 0.90 seconds over Robinson, as well as an impressive 2.62 seconds ahead of Moltzan.
The Ski World Championships, held every two years and alternating locations, are a prestigious showcase for alpine skiing, featuring various disciplines over a fortnight. Brignone's journey to this gold medal began in 2011 when she won her first World Championship medal—a silver in giant slalom at the competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It took eleven years for her to return to the medal podium, achieving gold in the combined and silver in giant slalom at the 2023 Championships in Courchevel-Méribel.
Brignone’s recent successes further highlight her exceptional career. In 2020, she became the first Italian to win the overall World Cup title, a significant milestone in alpine skiing. Currently, she is also leading the World Cup standings this season. Her medal haul doesn't stop there; Brignone also claimed silver and bronze at the 2022 Olympic Games, marking her as one of the sport’s elite competitors.
With her latest triumph in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Federica Brignone continues to demonstrate her remarkable talent and resilience in the competitive world of alpine skiing.
Related Sources: