Brignone Wins Downhill Crystal Globe After Sun Valley Cancellation

Federica Brignone (ITA/Rossignol) sealed her first career Downhill Crystal Globe, after the cancellation of the Sun Valley event left her top of the points table. Brignone finished with 384 points, ahead of Conny Hütter (AUT/Head) and Sofia Goggia (ITA/Atomic).

Brignone’s previous best finish in a Downhill season was third, in 2019/20. Her only career Downhill World Cup wins – in St. Anton and Garmisch-Partenkirchen this season – and a third place in Cortina d'Ampezzo were enough for her to clinch the title.

“It had been a crazy season for me and [what happened in Sun Valley] is not cancelling what I did,” said Brignone. “The globe in Downhill is really something I was not expecting this season. It is really crazy.

“I have to thank my technician a lot, he was believing in me, in speed. My brother, my team. This is something incredible.” Brignone said the realisation she might end up with the globe crept up on her gradually.

“When I got the red bib in Cortina I thought OK, for once in my life I will race in Downhill in the red bib, and I thought it was the first and the last one,” she said.

“Then in Garmisch I won, then I was always there, I didn’t lose so many points, and actually I wanted to prove myself on my home slope. Then I thought we will play the game until the end.

“It’s not believing, it is trying my best, and then we see what will happen. That was the goal to do. It didn’t cancel what I did in Downhill this year.

“It was amazing. Even the podium was good. I will play another two Globes on Sunday and Tuesday.

“I will try to make my best skiing and we will see what happens.”

Hütter was reflective on her second place finish. "It's a weird feeling that we are not able to fight for the Globe in the last race," she said. "I'm a little sad, but I'm really happy with my Downhill season, it was amazing.

"In January I was a little ill and struggled with my mindset, so second is good."

Goggia added: "It was the last chance in the Downhill and I was looking forward to racing.

"It's a pity, but the result of all the season reflects the points every girl could make. So it is congrats to Federica.

"I had a good season in Downhill. I wasn't dominating like the last ones, but I had no time to prepare the season, I was in surgery.

"Me and Federica are pushing the team and each other hard. When you have good horses that run fast, everyone is going to run faster."