Italy's Federica Brignone completes comeback, claims gold in women's Super-G at Winter Olympics

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Italian skier Federica Brignone's long, painful climb back to the top is complete.

The 35-year-old earned the first Olympic gold medal of her decorated career by winning the women's Super-G on Thursday.

Less than a year removed from breaking multiple bones in her left leg — which resulted in two surgeries and months of rehab — Brignone navigated the tricky technical Tofane course in 1:23.41.

“I told myself, ‘Either it will go great or it will be a disaster,'” Brignone said. "But I never thought about winning.”

Romane Miradoli of France won silver and Cornelia Huetter of Austria took bronze.

Racing in foggy conditions in flat light the can make the nuances of the course difficult to navigate, and with IOC President Kirsty Coventry and Italy President Sergio Mattarella near the finish below, Brignone triumphantly raised her poles after crossing the line.

Brignone's victory made her the oldest female gold medalist in women's alpine. The gold is also her fourth Olympic medal. Brignone claimed silver in the Super-G and bronze in the team event in Beijing four years ago. She also earned bronze in the Super-G in Pyeongchang in 2018. Brignone's four medals under the rings now match Deborah Compagnoni for most by an Italian women's skier.

Brignone was precise and fast, a combination hard to come by for many top contenders whose runs were over long before the finish.

Downhill champion Breezy Johnson of the U.S. caught her right pole on a gate shortly after exiting the speed-building chute at the course and lost her balance. She ended up in the catch fence but was able to get to her feet.

Johnson did have a piece of hardware waiting for her at the finish anyway. Longtime boyfriend Connor Watkins proposed shortly after the race ended. Johnson gleefully accepted the blue sapphire, white sapphire and white gold ring with tears in her eyes.

“I think most people want to peak at the Olympics,” Johnson said. "I just extra peaked.”

Johnson was hardly the only one who ran into trouble in difficult conditions. Italy's Sofia Goggia, currently atop the World Cup season standings in the Super-G, 2018 Olympic gold medalist Ester Ledecka of Czechia and American Mary Bocock, in the race after U.S. star Lindsey Vonn severely injured her left leg in the downhill on Sunday, were all unable to make it down safely.

In all, 16 of the 42 skiers who dropped in didn't reach the finish and for many of those who managed to make it, their 85ish second ride to the painted line at the end was harrowing.

Brignone was one of four flag bearers for Italy during the opening ceremonies. At one point, still bothered by the pain in her left leg nearly 10 months after her terrifying crash in Val di Fassa, Brignone asked curler Amos Mosaner to carry her on his shoulders. Mosaner obliged, leaving Brignone free to wave the flag.

The familiar combination of red, white and green was visible across a wide swath of stands on Thursday when Brignone finished, as a crowd emboldened by the early success of the host country roared at the 2026 Games roared its approval.

The Italian Air Force's acrobatic unit dubbed “Frecce Tricolori” performed a flyover shortly before the medal ceremony, leaving behind trails of smoke in the country's signature colors.

“I know how much she struggled with that leg and it hurt a lot so I really am so amazed by her performance today and she’s such a good friend that I’m super, super happy for her,” said Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, who finished fifth. “I just wish I could have shared it with her. The gold medal, she deserved it.”

Vonn, who knows a thing or two (or three) about responding to adversity, gave her longtime friend and competitor a shoutout.

"Congrats Fede,” Vonn tweeted. “What an incredible comeback!!”

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Italy's Federica Brignone, center, gold medalist in an alpine ski, women's super-G race, silver medalist France's Romane Miradoli, left, and bronze medalist Austria's Cornelia Huetter, take a selfie at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates winning the gold medal in an alpine ski, women's super-G race, with the team, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's super-G race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Italy's Federica Brignone speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's super-G race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Italy's Federica Brignone at the finish area, during an alpine ski, women's super-G race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say President Donald Trump has “gone too far” in sending federal immigration agents into American cities, according to a new AP-NORC poll that suggests political independents are increasingly uncomfortable with his tactics.

Views of Trump’s handling of immigration — which fell over the course of his first year — remained steady over the past month, with about 4 in 10 saying they approve of the president’s approach. But the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also found that the Republican Party’s advantage on Trump’s signature political issue has shrunk since October.

About 3 in 10 U.S. adults trust Republicans to do a better job handling immigration, while a similar share say the same of Democrats. An additional 3 in 10, roughly, don’t think either party would do a better job handling the issue, and about 1 in 10 say both parties would handle it equally well.

The Republican president’s core supporters remain overwhelmingly supportive of Trump’s immigration tactics. But there are signs that more independents think he’s going too far.

Here's the latest:

The Interior Department has distributed only a fraction of the $150 million Congress set aside in last year’s sprawling spending bill for the celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

A spokesperson for the department said Wednesday that the single biggest recipient of funding is America250, which has gotten $25 million of the money set aside in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for celebrations and commemorations of America 250. The money went to Interior to distribute but did not specify recipients or amounts. The spokesperson said decisions are being made on how to disperse the money.

The acknowledgement comes one day after a congressional subcommittee hearing where Democrats raised questions about how much public funding Freedom 250, created by President Donald Trump, has received and whether that was to the detriment of America250.

Freedom 250 has received less than $4 million from the pool, said someone with knowledge of the money that organization has received.

Four members of Idaho’s congressional delegation sent a joint letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum last September requesting money be dispersed to A250 commissions in all 56 states and territories to support local history organizations. The congressional delegation hasn’t received a response.

— Gary Fields

“I can tell you President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president,” Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez said in an NBC News interview.

With the comments, Rodriguez is continuing to make the case that last month’s U.S. operation to capture Maduro last was a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty even as the Trump administration says she’s cooperating with their effort to overhaul Venezuela’s vast oil industry.

U.S. forces whisked Maduro and his wife to New York to face drug conspiracy charges. Rodriguez in the interview said the Maduros are “innocent.”

Rodriguez met with Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday in Caracas.

A new AP-NORC poll also finds the Republican Party’s advantage on Trump’s signature political issue has shrunk since October.

About 3 in 10 U.S. adults trust Republicans to do a better job handling immigration, while a similar share say the same of Democrats. An additional 3 in 10, roughly, don’t think either party would do a better job handling the issue, and about 1 in 10 say both parties would handle it equally well.

In October, 39% of U.S. adults said they trusted the Republicans to better handle immigration, while 26% said that about the Democrats, giving the GOP a 13-point edge. In the new poll, the difference between the parties is only 4 points.

About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say President Donald Trump has “gone too far” in sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

The new polling comes as the nation watches the human impact of Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, where thousands of heavily armed masked agents have descended upon the capital city to find and remove immigrants in the country illegally.

There have also been numerous violent clashes with protesters, including two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents in recent weeks.

About 6 in 10 Americans also believe Trump has “gone too far” when it using federal law enforcement at public protests in U.S. cities, the poll found.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event on coal power in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event on coal power in the East Room at the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)