For fifteen years Fede and Sofia have been challenging each other, an endless rivalry in which mutual respect has never been lacking
The history of sport is full of great duels, rivalries even within the same team. Starting from Mazzola and Rivera, Milanese legends of the 60s and 70s and united by the blue shirt without ever being friends, in skiing Stefania Belmondo and Manuela Di Centa. And now Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia, two skiing champions who have given us successes in series and who are also the protagonists of this beautiful Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. On Thursday evening the whole Italian team was at Casa Italia, in Cortina, to celebrate Federica Brignone’s gold in the super G. An exceptional feat if you consider that ten months ago many orthopedists had questioned the possibility of Federica putting on skis again. Instead, not only did he get them back, but he also won the most important race of his life. But let’s go back to Casa Italia, while Federica was being interviewed by Rai and Eurosport, her fans had invaded the location chosen by CONI for the Olympic representation even with a plastic tiger. Federica was the image of happiness, next to her Deborah Compagnoni, another skiing legend who has won three gold medals at the Olympics, was smiling as she admitted that a few hours earlier she had had to keep her sunglasses on to cover her emotional tears.
Sofia disappointed
In one corner Sofia Goggia had the face of someone who had had a really bad day. She struggled to share her happiness at Federica’s victory with her teammates, even though immediately after the finish line she said: “Fede deserved it, after everything he’s been through.”. The champions will recognize those who are made of the same cloth, even if Sofia Federica wanted to take that gold around her neck. The bronze in the downhill was a nice appetizer, but the Bergamo native was banking everything on the Super G which this season in the World Cup has given her great satisfaction (she is at the top of the rankings). Who knows how long he will remember that race on the track he loves most. Sofia was skiing very fast, she had a 76 cents advantage over her partner and rival, which in a ski race is an eternity. He pushed too much, because Sofia Goggia is like that. Her victories are the result of courage and recklessness, many times she threw away victories that seemed very close due to mistakes due to the excessive desire to prove to the world that she was the strongest. All or nothing, that’s how Sofia is.
Reflective faith
Different characters, but both chase the scepter of heir to Deborah Compagnoni, at times they have thrown poisonous barbs at each other because the idea of both is always and only one: to win. Time has softened the edges, they have competed for fifteen years and have given Italy wonderful days and fantastic successes. Without ever being friends. But perhaps there is no need, as long as there is respect. And that has never been lacking: the victories of each stimulated the other to grow, improve, prepare better. World sport and all those who love skiing can only say thank you.
