Italian Skier Sofia Goggia Eyes Gold on Home Snow
Olympic champion Sofia Goggia is preparing to compete in her home Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where she's won four times on her favorite slope. Despite battling nine surgeries and serious injuries, the 33-year-old remains Italy's brightest medal hope.
Sofia Goggia knows every turn of the Olimpia delle Tofane slope in Cortina d'Ampezzo better than any other course in the world, and now she gets to race for Olympic gold there.
The Italian downhill champion is gearing up for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on home snow. She's triumphed on this particular piste four times in her career, more than anywhere else.
Goggia made history at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, becoming Italy's first Olympic downhill gold medalist in 66 years. Four years later in Beijing, she pushed through a leg fracture and partial ACL tear to claim silver, finishing just 0.16 seconds behind the winner.
"I managed to experience my dream without letting the pressure get to me," she said. "I hope it's the same in Cortina."
The 33-year-old from Bergamo has faced setbacks that would end most careers. She's undergone at least nine surgeries, including multiple fractures in her right leg two years ago that left her questioning whether she could continue.
A conversation with soccer legend Roberto Baggio, who turned to Buddhism to cope with his own injury struggles, helped Goggia find her path forward. Another operation to remove painful hardware from her leg got her back on track.
Why This Inspires
Goggia's journey shows that champions aren't defined by avoiding obstacles but by how they overcome them. She accepts the physical toll of her sport as part of the pursuit, viewing each injury as something she must work through rather than run from.
Her focus remains laser sharp. At the Olympics, she walks around in noise-canceling headphones, blocking out distractions to stay in what she calls her "silent space."
With defending World Cup champion Federica Brignone recovering from her own broken leg and two-time world champion Marta Bassino ruled out with injury, Goggia carries Italy's medal hopes. She's racing not just for herself but for a nation that will be cheering from every mountainside.
The girl who once drew Olympic rings everywhere is about to compete under them again, this time with the entire Italian Alps as her backdrop.
More Images
Based on reporting by Japan Times
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
Spread the positivity! 🌟
Share this good news with someone who needs it
