Sofia Goggia: The Return of the Italian Speed Queen

Photo credit: GEPA pictures

A Devastating Injury

On February 5, disaster struck. Sofia Goggia, Italy’s beloved “speed queen,” crashed while training giant slalom in Ponte di Legno. She violently hit a gate, fracturing the tibia and malleolus of her right foot. Surgeons in Milan operated on her the same day, abruptly ending her 2023/24 season.

A Promising Season Cut Short

Goggia had been on an incredible run. She achieved a fifth-place finish in the World Cup GS at Krönplatz, her best result in the discipline since 2018. More importantly, she led the season’s downhill ranking and stood fifth overall, thanks to six podium finishes, including two victories.

The Tough Road to Recovery

The following weeks were grueling for the 2018 Olympic downhill champion and four-time World Cup downhill discipline winner. However, despite publicly promising her fans a return to competition, Goggia privately feared her career might be over. She even considered retirement. On a national TV show, she joked about a magazine cover that depicted her with two left feet, but privately, she feared for her future on skis.

Medical Challenges

Dr. Andrea Panzeri, the medical director of the Italian Ski Federation, described the severity of her injury. “This was a bad fracture, articular, which could have resulted in significant discomfort for a professional skier. We used a plate with screws that will remain on the bone,” he said.

Mental Struggles

Luca Agazzi, Goggia’s personal coach, remembered the tough times. “In the middle of last season, we were respecting the recovery time. Sofia was strong and fine, but the injury was mentally hard for her.”

Matteo Artina, her physiotherapist and athletic trainer, echoed these sentiments. “After the injury, finding motivation in oneself and the people around you is crucial. Sofia showed great character and solidity during this process,” he said

Steps Forward

Artina, who worked closely with Goggia, described the emotional recovery process. “Post-surgery, we began working without loading the right leg. Discarding the crutches and starting cycling were significant milestones,” he shared. The contribution of the Red Bull staff, with whom Artina is affiliated, was instrumental during this period. Their support provided Goggia with the resources and encouragement she needed to stay motivated and focused.

Dr. Panzeri confirmed that the recovery was progressing well. “We monitored developments constantly. By early June, a CT scan and X-ray showed good progress. Sofia’s positive feelings validated our testing,” he noted.

Back on Skis

Goggia returned to the snow on June 18, much earlier than initially predicted. “The doctors initially predicted six months from surgery to return to snow,” she recalls. “But the surgery was successful, and the recovery went so well that we decided to put the skis back on earlier.” Coach Agazzi confirms her progress, stating, “Sofia is in very good shape. She can load her leg and foot without pain. She has to get used to the plate inside, but we skied with race ski boots that weren’t even modified. The foot is fine inside the boot. After two days, she felt a bit of discomfort, but that is normal after several months.”

Goggia adds more details about her return. “The goal was to evaluate ski boot adaptations, to understand what to do before the planned trip to Argentina in August. However, the feedback was positive. The foot is fine, but there’s still a lot of work to do, especially with jumps and rebounds. I still feel nervous. I need to recover volume in both my tibia and calf, but the situation is good. Compared to my other rehabilitations, this one has been similar in progression. However, this injury is different. It’s the first time I’ve seriously injured a foot, that is anatomically a little bit different, with an external plate on the bone. I can feel it a little bit in the ski boot—not as pain, but in the biomechanics.”

Future Plans

Goggia plans to travel to South America on August 18, ten days before the rest of the team. She’ll then be able to reduce her daily volume but still accumulate the desired time on snow. After some GS training in Ushuaia, Argentina, she will move to La Parva, Chile, to train for 10 days with the Italian men’s speed team.

Looking Ahead

With no Zermatt/Cervinia World Cup downhills on the November calendar, Goggia has less pressure to regain top form quickly. The first speed competitions are in December, in Beaver Creek, Colorado, giving her plenty of time to prepare in Colorado before the races. Notably, it will be the first time the women will compete in Beaver Creek on the Birds of Prey course.

Sofia’s Determination

Reflecting on her journey, Goggia said, “This return to the snow has given me great determination. I’ve proven I can come back from injuries before. For the next few weeks, I see a quiet summer period with training on skis and in the gym. It will be a long run. I will need time to recover fully, also in my head, but I will face it step by step, turn by turn.”

Fortunately, all signs point to Sofia Goggia’s triumphant return to the white circus for the 2024/25 season.