Italian skier Sofia Goggia reflected on what the sport means to her, vowing to continue competing for as long as possible. The 33-year-old has enjoyed considerable success as an alpine ski racer and has won two Olympic medals.
Goggia has been a prominent name on the skiing circuit for more than a decade now. Her first World Cup win came in March 2017, at the Downhill event in South Korea. Since then, she has recorded 65 World Cup podiums, including 27 wins.
Sofia Goggia: Being an Athlete a Huge Privilege
During her appearance on the “Alpine Pulse” podcast, Goggia spoke about what being an athlete means to her. She called being an athlete “a huge privilege” and added that she will keep competing at the top level for as long as she can.
“The life I’m living now, it’s something so special which has a deadline. And I will never find anything similar to the emotion that I feel when I am at the start gate, when this career will be done. So, I think that my life outside skiing can wait, and I’m so grateful to live this life now.”
“I don’t think about what’s going on next. I’m not worried about it. This is, being an athlete, this is a huge privilege. And as soon as taking a chairlift when the sun rises, gets you a lot of emotion. And of course, you ski fast. I will do this life.”
Goggia won her first Olympic medal at the 2018 Winter Games, taking gold in the Downhill. She then clinched silver in the Downhill at the 2022 Winter Olympics, just weeks after suffering a leg fracture.
Goggia Set for Home Olympics
At the age of 33, Goggia will know that the 2026 Winter Olympics may well mark her final appearance at the stage. The Italian will hope to bow out with another medal in the Downhill event.
Making the 2026 Games even more special for Goggia is that they will be held in her home country, Italy. She was born in Lombardy, the same region where the Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to 22.
Goggia will have her sights set on winning an Olympic medal on home soil. And she has shown promising form in recent weeks, earning a World Cup win in Super G at Val-d’Isère and securing a podium finish in both Super G and Downhill at St. Moritz in December.
Most recently, Goggia competed at the World Cup event in Tarvisio, finishing sixth in the Super G. Lindsey Vonn came second, with Emma Aicher getting the win.
