Italy's Federica Brignone on Saturday
night won her second world cup overall title after the downhill
at Sun Valley was cancelled due to heavy snow meaning the last
races of the season would not take place and she had
mathematically beaten Swiss rival Lara Gut-Behrami.
the 34-year-old Val d'Aosta born skier, who won the first
overall title by an Italian woman skier in 2020, also took this
year's downhill title.
"I was focused on myself all season. Today was a very strange
day, but I was calm and I would have tried to do my best anyway,
also to take the downhill cup, which is truly special," Brignone
told Sky Sport. "I'm proud of the work I've done over the years
and obviously this season to improve my weak points in
downhill," the Italian continued, "especially on the sliding
part. It's truly extraordinary."
Howver, she also said she was focusing on Sunday's superG, where
she is also aiming to clinch the speciality title.
"Today was a 'race of tension', we inverted the program by
working out in the morning and then the idea of ;;racing at
three in the afternoon wasn't the best, it was strange.
"However, I was sure I would do better than yesterday in the
trials and that I could compete until the end on the track.
"If they had told me at the beginning of the season, I would
never have believed I would arrive at the Finals as the first in
the rankings, even in the downhill.
"I would have liked to do the race today but sometimes it
happens that you can't. I'm very excited but also focused on
tomorrow, because I will compete for another specialty world
cup".
The Italian skier is the most successful Italian woman ever.
Brignone is second in the world cup race win tally only to the
great Alberto Tomba, with 37 victories to his 50.
She also has two Olympic silvers and a bronze as well as two
world golds and three silvers.
Overall, she has 84 podium finishes.
As well as her two overall world cup titles, she has another
three: one each in giant slalom, superG and combined.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
