Italy's joint most successful female Alpine skier Federica Brignone, who boasts 24 career victories alongside the just-injured Sofia Goggia, is to appear as a special guest on the opening night of the Sanremo Song Festival Tuesday, host and organizer Amadeus announced at the pre-festpress conference Tuesday morning .
Milan-born Brignone, 33, told ANSA she had said yes to Amadeus' invitation also to promote her sport in the run-up to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
She will be the first female skier at the festival.
"At first my reaction was: help, I'm busy with training and competitions," said the 2020 overall World Cup winner.
"Then I thought it would be an opportunity to live a unique experience," said the athlete, currently third in the World Cup rankings, who is part of the Carabinieri military sports group.
2018 Olympic downhill champ Goggia, 31, from Bergamo, broke her right leg and ankle in a training fall Monday and her season is over.
She currently leads the downhill standings but is destined to be overtaken with four races to go.
Goggia says she will "rise again, yet again" after a number of previous injuries and be ready for next year's competitions.
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