Alpine skier Sofia Goggia is a living example of everything that dedication stands for. Famously called the Italian speed queen, she’s among the many phenoms making a comeback from injury this December. After she fractured her right foot’s tibia and malleolus in February, she underwent surgery and rehabilitation. And fast track to today; she’s all charged up for the FIS Ski World Cup 2024-25, but this hardly beats her 2022 stunner for being the most epic comeback of all time.

Recently, at the Atomic Media Day event, Sofia Goggia recalled a few special races housed deeply in her memory for the challenges they brought. But one of them stood out as the Downhill specialist remarked, “There are a lot of races I bring in my heart because of the different condition. Like, I can remember clearly, the day I started with a broken hand after the surgery the day before. At the hand, I won it because I was so happy to be at the start gate.”

The reference here draws back to December 2022, when the FIS Ski World Cup reached St. Moritz, Switzerland. On a particularly weather-affected day, the downhill race turned into a tall challenge due to the sparse visibility. Moreover, a course runner’s injury left Sofia Goggia’s stint delayed significantly, during which time conditions worsened and increased snowfall was recorded. Although the Olympic medalist was in form and put in a strong runner-up performance, it was not without her left having smashed into the 3rd gate.

In the initial moments, Sofia Goggia predicted it was a broken hand. Back then, she had said, “A contact with a block of ice before the third gate caused me a lot of pain and I immediately understood that something was broken.” It turned out to be true, as scans confirmed that she had a fracture in the second and third metacarpal bones. Thus, she had to be operated on in Milan the very same day.

But, despite the ordeal she faced, within 24 hours, Sofia Goggia was back in the snow with a brace on her hand. Not just that, with a 1:28.85 in the clock, she raced to her 3rd Downhill title of the 2022-23 season. “I am super happy with my race,” she had previously said. Well, two years later, at a recent event in 2024, she recalled that as one of her bravest experiences so far!

Even today, she exhibits equivalent grit and commitment to the sport. Thus, while she was waiting for her foot to recover this season (2024), she kept thinking, “I want to ski, I want to give it a go, the drive to push myself hard is still there despite seven injuries.” At the same time, she confessed to being curious about another one of her ski contemporaries, Lindsey Vonn’s possible return this season.

Sofia Goggia vs. Lindsey Vonn this FIS Ski World Cup season?

There have been rumors on and off that Lindsey Vonn might return to the FIS Ski World Cup this year. Her training in New Zealand ignited the spark and her post on Instagram dropped a cryptic hint. Amidst all this, Sofia Goggia was questioned on similar lines at the Atomic Media Day 2024 to garner her reaction on the possibility of facing Vonn again this year.

Well, concerning Lindsey Vonn’s comeback, all Sofia Goggia had to say was, “I don’t know…It would be great to race in the World Cup with my idol.” She confessed to learning about it via news articles. However, she knew that amidst the rumors and gossip, there was no concrete confirmation yet. But that does not discount the fact that the two, Vonn and Goggia, are close friends.

They bonded on that particular element of relatability, for the two have been affected by long-drawn injury chapters. “Lindsey, with the career she had, also full of injuries, has been very understanding and supportive,” Goggia commented. The Italian believes Vonn is someone who understands her state of mind and grasps what she says quickly for Vonn has experienced similar patterns. Tri-compartmental degeneration in her knee and a buildup of several injuries led her to undergo knee replacement surgery in April 2024.

But if she gets back to skiing this winter, it’ll amp up the total to three as Sofia Goggia, Mikaela Shiffrin, and possibly Lindsey Vonn can be seen maneuvering down the slope after intense injuries. Are you excited to see this possibility materialize? Share your thoughts with us!