Italian Skiers Bassino Brignone Injured Ahead World Cup Opening

Italian Alpine skiing star Marta Bassino suffered a lateral fracture of the tibial plateau in her left leg due to a fall during a training session in Val Senales, forcing her to undergo surgery and miss the opening World Cup giant slalom in Sölden as well as potentially the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bassino, a two-time world champion and giant slalom crystal globe winner, is the second major Italian skier sidelined this season after Federica Brignone, the reigning World Cup overall champion, who is also out indefinitely following a severe leg injury sustained in April. Bassino's injury occurred while skiing a flat section of the Leo Gurschler slope and was promptly treated onsite before hospital scans confirmed the fracture. Bassino has an impressive record including seven World Cup victories and world titles in parallel and super-G events, making her absence a significant blow to the host nation's Olympic hopes. Italy’s other star skier, Sofia Goggia, remains active and is a key competitor in downhill events. The Italian skiing team faces a challenging season with two of its top female athletes sidelined ahead of the home Olympics.