Brignone Claims 33rd World Cup Win in Giant Slalom

Federica Brignone secured her 33rd World Cup win in the giant slalom in Sestriere, while Mikaela Shiffrin finished 25th in her return to World Cup action.

Italian skier Federica Brignone secured a victory in the women's World Cup giant slalom in Sestriere on Friday. Brignone's win came on home snow, while US ski great Mikaela Shiffrin finished 25th in her return to the discipline after a crash in Vermont last November. Alice Robinson of New Zealand took second place, having set the fastest time in the first run, and Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund finished third.

🇮🇹 Federica Brignone triumphs in Sestriere! 🏆🎿
Another incredible performance from the Giant Slalom World Champion as she claims victory on home snow! 🇮🇹 33 World Cup Win, 6th this season!

🥈 Alice Robinson
🥉 Thea Louise Stjernesund#fisalpine #wintersport #worldcupsestriere pic.twitter.com/rs0JOQioHY

— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) February 21, 2025

The top two finishers, Brignone and Robinson, replicated their results from this month's World Championships. Shiffrin, however, did not participate in the giant slalom at the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, citing that she was not mentally ready. Shiffrin has been recovering from a puncture wound in her abdomen, which she sustained in the accident in Killington. As she continues to chase a record-extending 100th World Cup win, Shiffrin has adjusted her goals for the remainder of the season.

“For the rest of the season I feel my goal is sort of fighting for some points, basically try to stay in the top 30 in GS which is a very different position from the last many years when I was fighting for podiums,” Shiffrin told Eurosport. “That's not where I am right now, and that's OK. To reach my max potential right now it's to collect points and today was some points.” Shiffrin's 25th-place finish earned her valuable points, marking a positive step in her return to competition.

"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁!"

🇮🇹 World champion Federica Brignone with a brilliant first run on home soil in Sestriere ⛷️#fisalpine pic.twitter.com/olTkA7IEgI

— Eurosport (@eurosport) February 21, 2025

Mikaela Shiffrin acknowledged that her biggest accomplishment on Friday was simply pushing out of the start gate, marking a significant step in her return to competition. “That's a big step from not racing at all,” she said. Shiffrin noted that, having been accustomed to competing at a high level, the significance of this step might be underestimated. “Sometimes when you're used to being in the position to fight for top 10s, top fives, podiums it doesn't feel like such a big step as it actually is.”

Federica Brignone's victory in the giant slalom marked her 33rd World Cup win and 15th in the giant slalom discipline. The 34-year-old Italian, nicknamed the 'Snow Tiger,' achieved this feat despite recently recovering from an illness. “I am feeling better since yesterday, I knew it was possible to make two good runs and this is what I tried today,” Brignone said. Her win propelled her to the top of the overall standings, with a 170-point lead over Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami, who failed to finish the first leg.

The current standings in the giant slalom discipline have Alice Robinson leading the way, 39 points ahead of Sweden's Sara Hector. Federica Brignone occupies third place in the giant slalom standings, while also leading the overall World Cup standings.