Feb 16, 2026
3 min read
Federico Brignone's masterpiece knocked the 27-year-old from Tarvisio off the podium, who finished only fifteenth after the first lap of the giant slalom.She did... Learn more!
A masterpiece by Federica Brignone knocked the 27-year-old Tarvisio athlete off the podium, only fifteenth after the first round of the giant slalom.She had a third time, but a silver tie did not give her a bronze.A story of pain on the day of triumph
Milan-Cortina is more than a race.In the section "Beyond the finish line" every day you will see stories from the game: victory, fall, wait, gesture aside.The story of athletes and people, dreams and sacrifices, because the Olympics do not end at the finish line: it continues in the lives that pass it.Here's the whole episode."Beyond the finish line" is composed of a different column every day "Cronache dal ice", which focuses on the results, medals, surprises, records and characters of each day.
What is left in history.And the sun melts like snow.5 hundredths of a second is enough.Sports have no memory.All or nothing, medal or tears.The second set of feelings (unfair) is disbelief and regret for Lara Della Mea, 27, from Tarvisio, east of Friuli, who left the Olympic giant slalom podium at the Olympia delle Tofane.The fourth place smells of mockery.
In the first heat, he flew 15th.In the second he went down decisively to take first place.And he got one, two, three, eleven.Della Mae was in the independent leader's seat, framed by the camera with a surprising smile.Until he was found by the Hector-Stjernesund duo, who had the same time in the first heat and the same time in the second: you don't get the same stuff.
When Sofia Goggia came down and took 8th place, Hector-Stjernesund celebrated a safe podium while Lara hesitated.Federica Bignone was still missing.For her, it was the difference between reaching the Olympic podium and nothing.Faith came easily: gold.All of Italy is on its feet.And Lara got up and came down from the podium.The equal merits of Hector and Stjernesund gave Della Mea a wooden medal just 5 cents away.“Unfortunately I made a mistake on my first shot, but it felt good to be able to play.”
This is a sad story. And the torture that goes with it. Although the whole of Italy was behind Brignone, but there was an athlete who did not want it, after all, he also deserved a medal. But this is a game, no discounts are given. And it does not allow concessions. Brignone fell gently and Laura prayed to hold her third place, the last of those medals that change your life. "I tried," said Della Mia, "and I am happy for Federica, she did something really amazing. Five centsburned, but in the end there were a lot of girls behind me by a few cents, and that's the way the game is, one has to finish in fourth place."Hector and Sternesande's five cents did the rest."Now I'll try to come back again and if I can deal with the attitude I have today, I think I can do well."
in the garage with dad
The first coach was his father.As a young girl, before she was a new star in the blue sky, Della Mee spent her summers in a garage."Together with my father, I properly equipped the garage, turning it into a functional gym. And after three weeks of strength training, I was able to go for cooling exercises: running and cycling."
She grew up in the ski cai Monte Luzari and became an army athlete: the mountains became her home, discipline her profession.He already has a world gold medal in the parallel team event on his CV: when the wind turns, Della Mia knows how to stay on his feet.But she fell several times and hurt herself.At the 2021 World Championships in Cortina, he broke his knee.A heartbreaking cry on live television.The dream of a world championship medal lasted a few seconds, but instead it was a very serious injury nightmare: a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee.The World Cup is over.She did not ski on the team at these Olympics: Sofia Gogia was out and her race was cancelled.
So here it is, in the most ungrateful place: fourth.That no man's land where there is no metal to grab onto.A tennis lover relaxes by painting wooden boards.He made one with some kind of tree, a huge oak that represents life.Smiling, Della Mea is satisfied with her place, Tarvisio, which was also written on her helmet in many races.His fourth place in Milano-Cortina will not go down in history, but his determination will."In the second run I said to myself: you have to do your best because it's a close race anyway and you have to make a difference because otherwise you won't take anything home".
Because that's not how you regenerate by chance: you do it when your head starts to believe it even before your feet do.Five cents, one breath.It can sweep away dreams.Or starting a storm on skis.
