Federica Brignone Claims Gold at 2025 Alpine Ski World Championships Giant Slalom
Federica Brignone delivered an unforgettable performance to secure the gold medal at the 2025 Alpine Ski World Championships' Women’s Giant Slalom held at Saalbach, Austria. Brignone, already well-regarded in the skiing world, showcased her remarkable ability by finishing with a substantial lead, cementing her legacy as one of the sport's greats.
Brignone, after battling through intense pressure from competitors, particularly Alice Robinson, who had performed exceptionally well with the day's best overall time during earlier qualifiers, demonstrated her resilience and skill during the two runs of the Giant Slalom held on February 13. "I was ready for this race, and I believed I could do it," Brignone said after her victory.
One of the most notable aspects of the race was Brignone's ability to recover and regain speed after losing time at one of the earlier gates. According to reports from blue News, she lost three tenths of a second, but managed to quickly recover. "I continued to push from the beginning. It seems like the others had too much respect for the course!" she added.
Brignone finished with the best overall time of 1:10:44 minutes, securing her first World Championship title after 28 years since the legendary Deborah Compagnoni achieved the same feat. Finishing just 90 hundredths of a second behind was New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, who secured the silver, and Paula Moltzan from the USA who took home bronze at 2.62 seconds behind.
Brignone’s confidence was evident from the early stages of the competition. She dominated the first run, setting the pace for her subsequent performance. "I knew I had it under control after the first run, but anything can happen at World Championships!" she declared.
Leading up to the race, Brignone was considered one of the favorites along with Swedish skier Sara Hector and Swiss veteran Lara Gut-Behrami. Each contender brought their skills and past experience to the fore. Hector had shown consistency throughout the season, but was unable to outperform Brignone on this key day.
Sofia Goggia, another contender who has faced her share of struggles during the championships, expressed her frustrations after her premature exit from the competition. Looking back on her performance, she conveyed her disappointment: "I end up in these tragicomic situations. These are moments only I seem to have to deal with!"
Tension was palpable on the slopes as the women navigated the unpredictable conditions. The lead changed multiple times throughout the event, and other athletes like Camille Rast faced distinct difficulties, even sharing anecdotes about struggles before the start of the race.
Rast explained her uncharacteristic performance, stating, "I felt sick at the start because Lara Colturi threw up right before my run. I had no idea what to expect after it!" Despite her strong season leading to this event, Rast finished her run significantly behind Brignone and went on to take 13th position overall.
Colturi, competing on behalf of Albania, also faced challenges yet showed resilience by finishing respectably. She started the second run feeling anxious but eventually found her footing on the course. "I’m just happy to have been here and to show what I can do on the world stage!" she reflected after her race.
With Brignone’s victory, the Italian team celebrated their consistent performance throughout the World Championships, having previously won multiple medals across different disciplines including silver for Brignone just days earlier in the super-G event.
The giant slalom race drew significant attention, not only for the competition itself but due to the stakes involved with national pride and the historical significance of the event. The expectations were high, and Brignone's extraordinary performance met and surpassed all of them.
Her gold medal is symbolic of more than just her individual achievement; it reflects the dedication, hard work, and passion for the sport both she and her teammates exhibit, adding to the legacy of Italian skiing.
Looking forward, Brignone will have additional opportunities to solidify her status as one of skiing's all-time greats, with fans eagerly awaiting her next moves on the slopes.