Goggia on matching Vonn’s eight downhill titles: “she is unreachable,” but then changes her mind

SOLDEU, Andorra

Always entertaining, both on and off the race course, Sofia Goggia strutted across the finish corral with a crystal globe in hand and a bright smile on her face. The glaring Andorra sun illuminated the trophy. She demonstratively urged on the crowd, gesturing to her ear and asking for more noise, before shouting ‘Sofia Goggia!’ in unison with the stadium announcer.

Goggia clinched her fourth career downhill title before entering the start house this past Wednesday for the season finale. The Italian queen of speed also made it three consecutive titles. She capped off a stellar season, despite battling through a broken left hand sustained in December, with a second place showing in Andorra. Goggia was beaten by Ilka Štuhec, who was 0.51 seconds faster down the Àliga course. Goggia’s 740 season points total were 189 more than the veteran Slovenian, who finished runner-up.

The loquacious 30-year-old Italian downhill champion was asked directly by Ski Racing Media if she can catch Lindsey Vonn and her eight career downhill titles. Goggia quickly assessed, answering carefully.

“Eight downhill globes – that means that for the next four years, I’m going to win a globe every year (because) I think I’m going to retire after the World Championships in 2027 Crans-Montana.

“It will be great, but I think she is unreachable for me and I’m really happy to already get my fourth globe. This is something that I’m very proud of.

“I also still want to prove myself in super giant (slalom) because it is a discipline that I couldn’t express myself as well in this season,” Goggia said, one day before finishing seventh in the super-G finale.

Returning her thoughts to her American friend’s benchmark in the most dangerous discipline, Goggia added: “We will try. What can I say?”

Vonn saw Goggia’s response forwarded to her on Instagram by the instigating journalist. She encouragingly shot back: ‘You can do it Sofi!’

Goggia and Vonn: a combined 60 World Cup downhill victories

The retired American skier captured six consecutive downhill titles between 2008 and 2013. She then added two more in 2015 and 2016, before retiring in 2019 due to injuries. Vonn attained 43 World Cup downhill victories over her 18-year-career. 

With Goggia’s five wins in nine races this season, she elevated her career victory total to 17. She is currently tied with Swiss Michela Figini, with Austrians Annemarie Moser-Pröll (36) and Renate Götschl (24) standing between her and Vonn.

“I would say that my season was really a roller coaster, but in my downhill season, I took part in nine races, winning five and crashing once, and I had three second-place finishes. So, I’m really proud of this season,” Goggia said. “Last summer, I worked hard to have a really stable season.”

Goggia’s vast achievements also include Olympic downhill gold and silver medals. At World Championships, she has silver and bronze medals, respectively, in super-G and giant slalom. However, surprisingly, she has never medaled at the World Championships in downhill. It appears she’ll have two more chances, in 2025 and 2027 in Saalbach, Austria, and Crans-Montana, Switzerland.

Goggia quickly changes course

Ski racing undoubtedly needs more captivating personalities like the extroverted Italian star who backs up her words with a go-for-broke mindset, often, but not always translating into victories, medals and titles. She pushes limits like no other female racer on tour. Her motto is, “Only the Brave.”

“I don’t know if I’m lucky or not because my way of taking risks is always the same,” Goggia said.

Goggia informed media in Andorra that she leaves extra space in her trophy case at home. Her motive is to keep herself inspired to ski faster and win more often. Her strategy is working.

When one journalist then blurted out “eight,” the unpredictable Italian quickly returned to her ultra-confident self, playfully contradicting her previous statement about Vonn. She shouted back: “Or nine!”

Follow Brian on Twitter – @Brian_Pinelli