Winter Olympics 2026: Federica Brignone questions if Lindsey Vonn ‘had a few marbles missing’ after crash - ‘Incredible brave’
Updated 16/02/2026 at 12:00 GMT
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Italy's Federica Brignone praised Lindsey Vonn's bravery after the American suffered a complex tibia fracture at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games. Vonn was bidding to win gold in the women's downhill after tearing her ACL nine days prior. Brignone suffered severe injuries of her own less than 12 months ago, but recovered just in time for her home Games and claimed super-G and giant slalom gold.
Watch Brignone's wondrous winning run to seal double gold - 'She wouldn't have dreamt this!'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Newly crowned double Olympic champion Federica Brignone has described Lindsey Vonn as "incredibly brave" after the American superstar suffered a horror crash in the women’s downhill at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Vonn was competing just nine days after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in a World Cup race in Switzerland.
Despite the serious setback, Vonn vowed to compete for gold at Milano Cortina, which was her main goal after making her comeback to the sport in 2024, five years following her retirement.
She set two strong training times without any issues, raising hopes she could do the unthinkable, but it wasn’t to be. In the early part of her run, Vonn was sent into a high-speed spin after getting her right arm caught in a gate, and the landing left her with a "complex tibia fracture" that requires multiple surgeries to address.
The 41-year-old had to be airlifted to safety and has already undergone multiple surgeries in Italy and said she will require more when she returns home.
Brignone is no stranger to dealing with severe injuries. Less than 12 months ago, the Italian broke her left leg in multiple places and tore her ACL in a crash, so if anyone knows what Vonn is going through, it’s the 35-year-old.
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Vonn 'risked too much' as experts react to American star's 'horrible' downhill crash
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I have little desire to talk about Vonn’s injury," Brignone said, the day after winning the giant slalom title to go with her super-G triumph and becoming a double Winter Olympics gold medallist.
"I know what it means to get injured. She was incredibly brave. Sometimes I’d ask myself if she had a few marbles missing but have been through something similar.
"I know that in my life it’s better to try and risk failure rather than not even try."
Asked how she dealt with the fear of injury which always looms among professional skiers, she added: "Tactically, I know I’m good. I have assured skiing technique from a technical point of view, and mentally I’m always on point. I wouldn’t do something I’m not capable of doing.
"Yesterday, I arrived without the appropriate preparation, but I felt like I had everything under control. I always have some level of fear, but you need an understanding to go fast - even when you’re well, it’s difficult."
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Brignone’s hopes of competing in a home Games looked in serious jeopardy when her own heavy crash left her with a double leg break, a ruptured ACL and a dislocated kneecap.
She made her comeback just weeks before the Olympics, but few would have predicted what was to come.
Most of the home hopes lay with Sofia Goggia, but Brignone claimed the first gold medal of her Winter Olympics career in the super-G and then romped to a dominant giant slalom victory to cap off a fairytale Games.
And she did it all while requiring surgery on the tibia in her left leg, which is still not 100%.
Asked how her leg is feeling after her giant slalom gold, she added: "Unfortunately, today is one of those in which it’s not great. Yesterday, after the race, I didn’t have time for the usual recovery techniques, ice etc. so I’m feeling it today.
"The surgery I need is not yet possible because my tibia is still not right. Let’s see, right now I need to see if I’m OK to compete in the next few weeks."
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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