Portugal Colonial - Olympic champion Brignone to undergo new knee operation

The 36-year-old injured knee ligaments during the Italian championships in April 2025.

She managed to regain fitness in time to win two gold medals on home snow at the Milan-Cortina Games, in super-G and giant slalom, earlier this year.

But Brignone cut her season short after the Olympics to continue her recovery, but has now decided on surgery.

"My leg continues to improve, but unfortunately, during certain activities and while skiing, I am still experiencing pain," Brignone said.

"For this reason, together with the medical team, we have decided to proceed with surgery...

"The main objective will be to remove the plate and clean up the area, with the possibility of also addressing the meniscus."

Brignone said earlier this year that the 2026/27 season would likely be her last.

"If I do a last dance or not depends on my health and my desire and motivation," she told Olympics.com in April.

The new World Cup campaign begins on the weekend of 24-25 October in Soelden, Austria, with a giant slalom race.

The 2027 world championships will take place in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in early February.

Brignone is also a two-time world champion and won the overall World Cup title in both 2020 and 2025.

O.Salvador--PC