The queen Federica Brignone grants gold encore and gives Italia the medal record

It could only be her, Federica Brignone, who gave Italia its seventh gold medal and the twentieth medal of the Olympic expedition to Milan-Cortina and equalled the record medal tally of Lillehammer '94, when the Azzurri conquered precisely this number of podiums, never before approached.

But this is statistics. On the Olympia slope of the Tofane the 'tigre di La Salle' skied into legend and beyond, of sport and beyond. Again. Because Brignone had already entered the myth after last Thursday's incredible victory in the super-G and had prepared herself for the giant slalom without any more anxiety, but without any particular expectations either. Yet she dominated both heats with a naturalness, class and determination that belong only to the greatest world sports heroes of all time.

A little over ten months ago - it is always worth remembering - Federica had destroyed her left leg at the Italian championships, which champions of the level normally do not attend at the end of the season, but which she had wanted to face out of respect for the many young skiers who admire her and who are inspired by her. A choice that she has never repudiated and that, as she has reiterated several times in recent months, she would make again.

The damage sustained had made it doubtful that she would even be able to walk normally again. But Federica wanted to take fate head-on. 'I will decide when to stop skiing,' she repeated each time that the pain, the exhaustion of rehabilitation, the persistent pain, the indifferent time running inexorably, would make anyone break down.

At the J-Medical in Turin, where she was treated and slowly got back on her feet, they swear they have never seen anyone with her stubbornness and resilience.