Federica Brignone's brother-coach: "I wish I were in her place. We win and lose together"

Rome, 6 April 2025 – “I wish I was there in Federica's place, with her broken leg in that bed. I would give anything."

Davide Brignone is something more than a brother, for Federico Brignone. He is also her coach, the person who shares choices, joys and sorrows. Her mirror, especially in these sad days after the terrible knee injury that will keep the champion from the Aosta Valley away from the slopes for months.

Davide, how is Fede?

“Good, better every day. The operation went well, on Friday night she felt more pain because they are decreasing the doses of painkillers, but she had a nice face, she is calm. Her morale is also good, as much as it can be after an injury like that. But here are her family, her friends, her boyfriend, we are all with her to distract her”.

And how is Davide Brignone?

“Now a little better. The leg and the pain are all his, even though we have always said that we win together and lose together, in this case it is a bad moment. It happened to me as a kid, I broke my leg skiing, and I know how much it hurts. I also told Fede, if I could change places and be in his place, I would do it immediately”.

Is it harder as a brother?

“I experienced it firsthand, on the one hand it was a stroke of luck because I'm happy to have been there, on the other hand I was really there, she got hurt a hundred meters below where I was. I was the second person to arrive. I managed to stay lucid, but I wasn't happy to see my sister in such bad shape”.

For Federica, was the accident avoidable, or is it just bad luck?

"We haven't even talked about it, we are a family always focused on the present and what will come. The past cannot be changed, we were raised that way, we are not interested in finding the culprit at all costs".

Some people wonder: why was Federica there?

“I don’t dare say that those who say that she shouldn’t have done the Italian championships after what she won are wrong, but I know that those who say that probably haven’t done this job and don’t know what it means to be a high-level athlete. We have always skied after the end of the World Cup, every year. And Fede has always participated in the Italians. Also for a question of respect: the strongest Italian athletes must honor the event and set a good example for the new generations. I imagine a young girl who has the opportunity to compete with Federica Brignone, maybe she’ll even be inspired”.

Any regrets?

“No, I take my share of responsibility for this choice, but I am sure that it was the right one and that if Fede did that race 500 times again, nothing would happen. I would do it all again”.

How was the phone call from President Mattarella?

“Funny, because the first time Fede hadn't heard, when they called back and he saw the number for Rome we were playing cards and he said: “And now who's calling me, Mattarella?” Actually no, it was his secretary... Obviously after that Fede was happy, but it doesn't surprise me”.

What doesn't surprise you?

"The wave of solidarity these days. What you sow you reap, Fede is a golden girl and in times of pain everyone wants to give back."

Will he make it to the Olympics?

“We can’t know now, we can’t do much about the medical part. But I’m positive because I know my sister and I know that whatever she can do, she will do. She’s not demoralized. I think we’ll find our usual Faith again.”