Federica Brignone wins Olympic gold at Milano Cortina 2026

From her first junior medal to Olympic triumphs, the Italian champion talks about sport, sustainability, and her passion for the mountains

We met her in Cortina, between a training session on the Olympia delle Tofane and a project dedicated to sustainability. Today Federica Brignone is Olympic gold medalist in Super G at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. In this interview for Cortina Discover The Dolomites Magazine, she told us about her connection with Cortina, her favorite slopes, and her vision for a more sustainable Olympics. Today, those words resonate even more strongly.

Mountains are her element, and motivation her superpower. Federica Brignone, the multi-talented Italian ski racer who’s the best ever in Alpine disciplines, is a force of nature. Her first international gold medal was in the 2009 Junior World Championship (when she was not yet 19). This was followed by a long series of wins, including 49 World Cup podium places - 20 firsts - 3 Olympic medals, one overall World Cup (the only Italian after Alberto Tomba) and three specialty’s World Cup. Last summer, Cortina was the starting point for her fifth Traiettoria Liquida, a project launched in 2017 to encourage protection of the environment, particularly water in all its forms (www.traiettorieliquide.it). But Federica comes to Cortina quite often, to race, to train and also to relax.

Federica Brignone

Let’s start with Cortina: here the classic ski route is Olympia delle Tofane. What’s your relationship with the slope?

It’s a really enjoyable piste to ski, where you can test your reflexes and try going fast. That’s what makes it challenging.

Which are your favourite slopes in the area?

Forcella Rossa, a fast, complex route that puts you to the test, and the Cinque Torri area, where the views are spectacular.

We’re coming up to the 2026 Winter Olympics, and once again they’re being held in the mountains of Italy. What does this mean to you?

I’m excited, and not only because the Olympics are coming home. Previous events have been held in places that are built from scratch, shaped around the Games. But Cortina has its own history, starting in 1956 and encompassing major world competitions. It has expertise and experience. We can use installations that are already there; refurbish them and leave them in place for the town afterwards. And that makes for a more sustainable Olympics.

Tell us about yourself. What’s your typical day like?

I spend at least six hours a day practising some kind of sport. In winter I ski in the morning, and the rest of the day is athletics training and physiotherapy. In summer, the focus is on athletics, in the afternoon I play a sport or go to the gym or a hypnosis session and, when I have time, I’m taking Hip Hop lessons. In summer I try to rest at least one day a week, so I have more time to see friends.

Federica Brignone

What’s the secret of your longevity as an athlete?

In three words: character, predisposition and commitment. Always having great motivation and the physical ability - inherited from my parents - to withstand a huge amount of work, and a little bit of technique, to avoid injuries.

When you talk about the upcoming Olympics, do you mention sustainability? How important is it for you?

It’s a daily practice that starts with small actions. Obviously in my job I can’t give up flying in planes, but I pay attention to details. I waste as little water as possible, I reuse and recycle. I buy fruit and vegetables from local farmers’ markets and avoid plastic packaging. We can make a difference by changing our way of living. And that’s exactly the kind of mindset I try to encourage.

With Traiettorie Liquide, each year you address the issue from a different angle. Which of your Trajectories have been the most special to you?

I learned a lot from the last one, in which I put myself in the place of a polluted and filthy Planet Earth and propose the adoption of behaviours and lifestyles that help to reduce and eliminate CO2 emissions by supporting the shift from fossil fuels to renewables. And I have very fond memories of the first Trajectory, a shoot with photographer Giuseppe La Spada - who has been involved with the project from the outset - in his native region of Sicily, on the Eolian Islands. Followed by an incredible team, I immersed myself in the sea wearing full ski gear. I almost drowned, but it was worth it! The photos are highly impactful with a strong message. And the fourth Trajectory was very sad but necessary: we went to the Forni glacier in Valtellina to expose the state of collapse our glaciers are in. And between Trajectories, we’ve also organised initiatives to engage children, along with the project’s mascot, Blue the dolphin.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years’ time?

At the moment I’m just thinking about being an athlete. Once that ends, I’ll have several possibilities; I’ll have to make some decisions. But one thing is certain: I’m not moving to a city. In 20 years’ time I’ll be surrounded by nature, in a place that’s perfect for outdoor sports, maybe my wonderful Aosta Valley. Or maybe by the sea, balancing on a surfboard!