How 'superhuman' Federica Brignone was able to 'fly under the radar' to claim comeback gold at Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games
By Ben Southby
Published 12/02/2026 at 18:24 GMT
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Federica Brignone's ability to return from a severe leg injury and win her first Olympic gold medal in her home country less than a year later has been branded "superhuman" by TNT Sports' Aimee Fuller. Fellow expert Ed Drake thought that Brignone benefitted from flying "under the radar" heading into the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, where she ended her wait for Olympic glory in the super-G.
Watch Brignone's 'monster' run that grabbed her memorable super-G gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
Federica Brignone claimed her first Olympic gold medal to cap a remarkable comeback at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The Italian veteran stormed to victory in the super-G on home snow, less than a year after she broke her leg and sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL).
Brignone's journey back to the top was considered "insane" by TNT Sports expert Ed Drake, while fellow pundit Aimee Fuller described the 35-year-old as "superhuman".
And the pair felt that the fact she was able to "fly under the radar" heading into her home Games could have been an advantage.
"She was [the story] up until when Lindsey [Vonn] crashed," Drake explained. "I think Federica has been able to go under the radar slightly. It was an unbelievable feat, an unbelievable story.
"She only started racing a couple of weeks ago. Since that crash and since that injury, to do it on home snow, the whole thing, for her, has been building up to start racing at these Games and she didn’t race in the downhill because the injury was too sore.
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Brignone 'speechless' as remarkable comeback ends in super-G gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
"And to be able to come and do it today, is just unreal."
As a former snowboarder who suffered her fair share of injuries, Fuller understood what it took for the "superhuman" Italian to return to the highest level.
"It’s so interesting in terms of injuries. First and foremost, it wasn’t a simple, clean break. It was a triple leg break, so we’re talking broken in three different places - match that with the ACL," Fuller said on TNT Sports.
"I think the incredible thing in terms of her comeback, it’s not very often that we see athletes make a return. Once you’ve had an injury, you never really feel normal in that place again.
"You then end up formatted in a different way. So the fact she’s been able to come back from that and fly under the radar coming into this, I think most people would struggle to walk again, let alone compete at that elite level.
"It’s superhuman stuff."
Drake went on to say that Brignone was "lucky" that the spotlight was away from her as she prepared for what might have been her final shot at a gold medal.
"Coming into the home Games and being able to go under the radar with such a big story, in reality, it might be a little bit lucky that she’s been able to go about doing her thing," he said.
"She’s been the second or third story when it comes to comebacks. It’s a great opportunity for her, probably her best chance at a gold medal. And to deliver in style, it was a really difficult course today.
"All of those things, it was a real tester and she looked so relaxed while doing it with all that pressure on her shoulders. I just thought it was insane."
- Vonn undergoes 'successful' third surgery, grateful for 'outpouring of love'
- 'Almost apologetic' Von Allmen completes historic hat-trick with super-G gold
- A seventh Games alongside her son - Meet the 46-year-old making Olympic history
Brignone had three Olympic medals - one silver and two bronze - in her collection heading to the 2026 Games as she chased the elusive gold.
"It was her first Olympic gold but also Italy's first Alpine Olympic gold [of these Games]," Drake added.
"For her to do it as one of the poster girls coming into the Games, especially pre-crash in April last year, it's all sort of come together."
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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