Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Federica Brignone secured her second gold medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday, dominating the women’s giant slalom. The victory comes just days after her triumph in the Super-G, solidifying her position as a leading figure in the Games.
Brignone finished the two runs with a total time of 2:07.89, besting German Lena Dürr by 0.34 seconds. Sofia Goggia, also of Italy, claimed the third spot on the podium, finishing 0.46 seconds behind Brignone. The Italian team’s success continued with Lara Della Mea finishing just off the podium in fourth place.
The win brings Italy’s medal count to 20, equaling the national record set at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. Italy now holds seven gold, three silver, and ten bronze medals, placing them second in the medal standings behind Norway.
The day also saw success for the Italian men’s 4×7.7km cross-country skiing team, who secured a bronze medal. Federico Pellegrino anchored the team to a third-place finish, overtaking Finland in the final stretch. The team’s performance was bolstered by strong legs from Davide Graz, Elia Brap, and Martino Carollo.
In short track speed skating, the Italian women’s 3,000m relay team – comprised of Arianna Fontana, Elisa Confortola, Chiara Betti, and Arianna Sighel – qualified for Wednesday’s final, finishing second in their semifinal heat behind the Netherlands.
Although, there was disappointment for Pietro Sighel in the men’s 1500m. Sighel was involved in a crash during his quarterfinal heat, caused by contact with an athlete from the Netherlands, which also impacted an Ukrainian skater. While the Ukrainian skater was reinstated to the semifinals, Sighel was not.
In a historic moment for the Games, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil won the men’s giant slalom at Bormio, marking the first-ever Olympic gold medal for a South American athlete in a Winter Games event.
The Italian delegation continues to compete across multiple disciplines, including biathlon, snowboard, and skeleton, with further events scheduled throughout the week. The biathlon team, however, faced setbacks in the men’s pursuit event, with Tommaso Giacomel finishing ninth.
Martina Di Centa, daughter of six-time Olympic medalist Giorgio Di Centa, announced her retirement from competitive cross-country skiing following the Games, citing a desire to focus on family commitments.
