“Brignone at the Games was a masterpiece of art. My injuries? At 18, I learned how to start over from scratch”: Deborah Compagnoni opens up in Milan

Deborah Compagnoni was the shining light at “Women at the Top”, an event held at the Teatro Manzoni in the heart of Milan for its fourth edition, dedicated to female empowerment and celebrating women’s talent, organised by “Il Sole 24 Ore” in collaboration with the Financial Times and with Sky TG24 as media partner.

The career of the legendary champion from Santa Caterina Valfurva, who won the hearts of fans not only thanks to her extraordinary triumphs at major events—from three Olympic gold medals at three different editions of the Games (from 1992 to 1998) to her gold-medal double at the World Championships in Sierra Nevada and Sestriere, on home snow—also included some sportingly dramatic moments. A series of physical problems affected her competitive career, which was nevertheless packed with success. “My first injury came when I was not yet 18. From then on, I began to understand what it meant to start over from scratch and believe again,” said the queen of Valtellina. “There was a time when I said: enough, I can’t keep getting injured and having to start over every time.

But I believed in myself again, and that was a good thing because my best results came precisely after that series of injuries. The mind counts for a great deal; I truly believe that the greatest strength comes from within and from the people close to us”.

It is therefore only natural, when discussing Italian champions capable of rising again after a terrible episode such as the one that struck Federica Brignone on 3 April 2025, to address the extraordinary comeback of the two-time overall World Cup winner, who went on to claim Cortina gold medals in super-G and giant slalom. “Federica produced a masterpiece, like those extraordinary works of art that stay with you and that you never forget for the rest of your life.

What matters are mentality, experience, technique and the ability to focus on the goal”.

Her social commitment through “Sciare per la Vita”, the charity association Compagnoni has been running for more than twenty years, remains close to her heart: “Over the years, through various activities always linked to sport, we have raised more than one million euros, donated to various areas of research and care for children. It is a project I care about deeply”.