Federica Brignone wins Olympic giant slalom; Mikaela Shiffrin 11th
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Federica Brignone was realizing the magnitude of her country’s second Winter Olympic gold medal when the two silver medalists approached the Italian ski star in the finish area, dropped to their knees and bowed to her.
Call her the Queen of the Dolomites.
Brignone, 35, was unable to walk for three months early last year. She is now a double Olympic champion after winning the giant slalom on Sunday, just 72 hours after claiming the downhill title she considered to be straight out of a Hollywood movie.
She delivered quite a sequence, taking a lead of 0.34 seconds after the first run, then completing a faultless second run in magnificent conditions in the Dolomites above Cortina.
Brignone finished 0.62 seconds ahead of defending champion Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund, who shared the silver medal.
“It was the biggest GS ski show we’ve had in a very long time,” said American star Mikaela Shiffrin, who finished in 11th place. “And to do it, you know, at the Olympics, where people really have their eyes on this sport. Federica skied amazing. It was so cool to watch.”
It wasn’t so pleasant for Shiffrin.
The American lacked the speed of Brignone or a number of her rivals in both runs and finished 0.92 seconds off the lead. She has now failed to medal in eight consecutive Olympic races since the 2018 Winter Games.
Redemption for Shiffrin could come in her best event – slalom – on Wednesday, and she showed no outward signs of disappointment, blowing her cheeks and waving to fans in the grandstand with both hands after her second run.
By then, the locals were waiting for Brignone to come for a second gold medal in four days, and she delivered.
It completes a stunning comeback for the popular Brignone, who was GS world champion in February last year before fracturing several bones in her left leg in March that required surgery, a handful of screws to repair and left her unable to walk until the summer.
Prior to these home Games, Brignone won a silver medal and two bronzes at the Olympics. Now she has the biggest one – twice.
