Brignone airlifted to hospital after serious crash at Italian Championships

Federica Brignone, the newly-crowned overall World Cup skiing champion, suffered a serious crash during the giant slalom at the Italian championships, resulting in multiple fractures and a torn cruciate ligament. The 34-year-old was airlifted to a hospital in Trento after losing control on the slopes of Val di Fassa, where she was competing just days after a successful season that included gold in the giant slalom at the World Championships. Following surgery in Milan, the Italian Ski Federation reported that Brignone's operation went smoothly, though her recovery timeline remains uncertain ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Brignone, who described the competition conditions as