Saturday’s debut, with the Cup and Olympic gold in her sights: “The two of us would have shared the pressure. It will be harder.”

Whether it’s the main event or just an appetizer, the Alpine Ski World Cup logically kicks off with Milan Cortina in mind, the Olympics that will enliven the slopes of Ampezzo and Bormio in February. That is the goal everyone is focused on ahead of the first giant slalom of the season, as is the long-standing tradition on the Rettenbach glacier in Sölden, Austria. It starts on Saturday (with the women’s race) on this strip of snow at 3350 meters, just below the dreams of an increasingly present and aware Sofia Goggia, the most eagerly awaited member of the Italian team. In her tenth year among the big names, the almost 33-year-old from Bergamo is raising the bar once again – like a Tamberi of the snow – and aiming for the most difficult target. It is not (at the moment) Olympic gold, which she already won in the downhill at Pyeongchang 2018, but the overall Cup. It would mean adding her name after Federica Brignone’s in the crystal globe’s roll of honor.
Sofia, do you feel like all the attention is on you?

“I don’t feel it, but if you make me think about it, it’s true. Clearly, if Federica had also been there, we would have shared the pressure, supporting each other. Instead, since she got injured, my staff and I have decided to stay in our bubble as much as possible to avoid being overwhelmed by a season that promises to be very challenging. As for Fede, we are all waiting for her return to the snow, and maybe things will turn out differently from the current situation. She has put herself in the hands of excellent people, and I wish her all the best.“

Is it true that you are in great shape, in fact, that you have never been in better shape?

”I feel very good. First of all, I worked hard on my fitness throughout the summer, which I hadn’t done for a long time. I also had an excellent training camp in South America, continuing the work we started last season. In short, touching wood, there have been no particular setbacks so far.”

Soelden and then three more giant slaloms to start a season in which there are 37 races instead of the usual 40-42 due to the Olympics. No room for error?

“Soelden is very special, the challenge will be to tackle that wall rather than my opponents. Then, regardless of how it goes, there would be no point in questioning the work done. Federica Brignone taught us the secret last year: it’s about staying focused, stage after stage, while also assessing the bad conditions of a specific race. If I can give 100% of what I have, of the work I’ve done, I’m sure that both victories and placings will come, because there may always be someone who is stronger than you.”

Last season, she finished second twice, just one hundredth of a second behind her national teammate…

(Smiles) “But hundredths come and go, and it’s true that the wheel turns sooner or later, right? Joking aside, if I look at it from a technical point of view, finishing behind a Federica in such good shape by just one hundredth of a second was still a sign that I was skiing very well myself.”

Mikaela Shiffrin, who will not be competing in the downhill, and Lara Gut-Behrami. Are these your rivals for the overall World Cup?

“It’s too early to say, as you know, the final tally is always done at the end. I know I’ve worked hard in giant slalom, even if I still have something to improve on compared to the giant slalom specialists. One thing is certain, you’ll see me at the start in three disciplines that I’ve prepared for with the same dedication, so every giant slalom race will be worth exactly the same as a downhill or super-G.”

And Milan-Cortina, for the moment, remains in the background?

“If we’re talking about pressure, absolutely yes. But then, as volleyball coach Julio Velasco says, having pressure is a privilege, because if you have it, it means you can do great things. But the invitation I want to extend to all my teammates is another, namely to focus on the beauty of being able to represent Italy on Italian soil. Not many people get to compete in the Olympics at home, so we should feel proud and excited to be supported by the energy of our fans.”

One of your special supporters was Giorgio Armani, who passed away a few weeks ago.

“For me, he was much more than a fashion icon. Since he chose me as an ambassador for his brand in 2022, I realized that Giorgio Armani, along with all the people I have met over the years, has become like family to me, with unbreakable bonds that go far beyond my sponsorship.”

Let’s play a game: if you win another Olympic gold medal in ‘your’ Cortina, will you retire?

“No… no… no. It didn’t happen in 2018 after the victory in Pyeongchang, and I hope it won’t happen this year.”

Will you at least try to graduate, now that you only have your thesis in Political Science left?

“You won’t believe it, but the thesis is due in the last week of January. In short, not exactly a quiet period. I chose propaganda during the Olympic Games as my topic, including the case of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.”