Federica Brignone Sets Her Sights on a New Goal After Knee Surgery

Federica Brignone has no plans to stop just yet. At 36, after winning two gold medals at the Milan-Cortina Olympics and capping off an extraordinary career, the champion from the Aosta Valley has decided to undergo another surgery in an effort to finally put her left leg problems behind her. This decision, made in just a few days, confirms her determination to continue competing. Her goal is ambitious: to return to full fitness and compete at the World Championships in Crans-Montana, scheduled for the first two weeks of February.

The surgery was performed in Milan under general anesthesia and involved the removal of the metal implants—namely, the plate and screws inserted into her left knee following the serious injury she sustained on April 3, 2025, in Val di Fassa. The subsequent medical report confirmed the operation’s complete success: “Federica Brignone underwent surgery under general anesthesia to remove the metal implants that had been placed in her left knee. The procedure was a complete success, and the reigning two-time Olympic champion in giant slalom and super-G will gradually resume physical activity within a few weeks.” The skier will therefore have to skip the trip to Ushuaia, Argentina, where the national team is currently engaged in summer training. Her return to the slopes, however, has merely been postponed.

Recovery time is estimated at about four to six weeks, but the surgery also yielded encouraging signs regarding the condition of the joint. Dr. Andrea Panzeri, coordinator of the federal medical commission, explained that the findings during the operation were better than expected. The arthroscopy revealed a cruciate ligament in fair condition and a “pretty good” meniscus, in addition to the healing of the fracture. Now Brignone will need to focus on healing the incision and regaining muscle strength.

This new phase of her recovery could help alleviate the pain she has been experiencing recently. This is the third surgery the champion has undergone since her very serious injury in April 2025. The first was an emergency procedure performed immediately after the fall, while the second, in July of the same year, was intended to improve knee mobility through arthroscopy.