ROME: Italian alpine skiing World Cup holder Federica Brignone said on Thursday her return to snow was a “starting point” with the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics a little more than two months away.
Brignone, a giant slalom silver medallist in Beijing three years ago, suffered a double fracture of her left tibia and fibula in April to make her a huge doubt for the Games, running from February 6 to 22.
The 35-year-old’s gold medal chances next year, especially in the giant slalom, were handed a boost earlier on Thursday when rival Lara Gut-Behrami was ruled out of the Olympics with a knee injury.
“I am very happy to have put my skis back on; there are many positive aspects, but there is still much to do,” Brignone said in an Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) statement.
“Let’s say it’s a first taste, not a destination but a starting point,” she added after her return to the snow at Cervinia in the Italian Alps.
Last season Brignone lifted the downhill and giant slalom crowns helping her to a second overall World Cup title.
The 2025 giant slalom world champion would be able to compete at the Olympics without a single race involvement this season, with the FISI being able to select her without the usual selection criteria.
Brignone ski return a ‘starting point’ before Winter Olympics
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Brignone ski return a ‘starting point’ before Winter Olympics
- Brignone, a giant slalom silver medallist in Beijing three years ago, suffered a double fracture of her left tibia and fibula in April
- “I am very happy to have put my skis back on; there are many positive aspects,” Brignone said
Sabalenka says Kyrgios match will not harm women’s tennis reputation
- Sabalenka will play the Australian, ranked 672 in the world, on December 28
- “I am not putting myself at any risk,” the 27-year-old Belarusian told the BBC
LONDON: World number one Aryna Sabalenka says she is not concerned that losing to Nick Kyrgios in this month’s ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition could damage the reputation of women’s tennis.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka will play the Australian, ranked 672 in the world, on December 28.
“I am not putting myself at any risk,” the 27-year-old Belarusian told the BBC. “We’re there to have fun and bring great tennis. Whoever wins, wins.
“It’s so obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but it’s not about that. This event is only going to help bring women’s tennis to a higher level.”
Some have criticized the event which has echoes of the original 1973 Battle of the Sexes match in which women’s trailblazer Billie Jean King was challenged by 55-year-old former Grand Slam winner Bobby Riggs who claimed women’s tennis was far inferior to men’s.
King won the match in Houston with the contest attracting a reported 90 million television viewers.
Unlike Riggs, Kyrgios is still an active Tour player although he played only five professional matches in 2025 because of the injuries that have dogged his career.
“It’s not going to be an easy match for Nick,” Sabalenka said. “I’m going to be there competing and showing women are strong, powerful and good entertainment.
“He’s in a lose-lose situation. I’m in a win-win situation.”
Kyrgios, the former world number 13, said in September that women can’t return men’s serves and that he would beat Sabalenka without having to try 100 percent.
However, he said the match would increase respect between the men’s and women’s Tours.
“So I can’t do anything other than hope me and Aryna play our best tennis and, at the end of the day, whoever wins, that our handshake afterwards solidifies the union between males and females in the tennis world,” he said.
