Sofia Goggia lights the cauldron in Cortina after helping Italy secure
Olympic hosting rights
[February 07, 2026]
By ANDREW DAMPF
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Sofia Goggia had a key
role in securing the hosting rights of the Milan Cortina Olympics for
Italy.
So it seemed fitting that the Italian downhiller lit the cauldron in
Cortina to conclude Friday’s opening ceremony, while retired Olympic
skiing champions Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni performed the
honors simultaneously in Milan. |
Final torchbearer Italian skier Sofia Goggia holds the torch of the
Olympic flame to light the Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich
during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in in
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool
Photo via AP) |
|
In 2019, Goggia and snowboarder Michela Moioli made a joint
speech and dabbed in unison before nearly 100 members of the
International Olympic Committee at the voting session for the
2026 Games. Their presentation was later considered vital for
Milan Cortina’s successful bid — winning over voters with their
positive energy to overcome a rival candidacy from Sweden.
Goggia won gold in the downhill at the 2018 Olympics and took
silver four years later in Beijing weeks after crashing in
Cortina.
She’ll race for more medals in the women’s downhill on Sunday in
Cortina.
Goggia has had a series of highs and lows in Cortina. She’s won
four World Cup downhills on the mountain but missed the 2021
world championships at the Alpine resort because of injury.
“There's a special place in my heart for this course,” Goggia
said. “It's intense and free like I am.”
It was a big night for Italian Alpine skiers, with defending
overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone one of the host
country’s flag bearers in Cortina. Olympic curling champion Amos
Mosaner, Italy’s other flag bearer in Cortina, held Brignone on
his shoulders when the Azzurri paraded through the town center.
“I’m heavy,” Brignone said, “so I wasn’t sure he could carry
me.”
Stefania Constantini, who won gold with Mosaner in mixed doubles
in Beijing, and luger Dominik Fischnaller, read the Olympic oath
in Cortina.
Gustav Thoeni, the 1972 Olympic giant slalom champion, was the
penultimate torch bearer in Cortina and handed off to Goggia.
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