Sofia Goggia leaves Argentina training camp early for medical tests

Sudden illness halts Ushuaia training

Italian alpine skier Sofia Goggia has cut short her pre-season preparation in Ushuaia, Argentina, after experiencing sudden physical malaise while training on the slopes of Cerro Castor. The 33-year-old skier from Bergamo, who represents the Fiamme Gialle sports club, had been working in South America alongside the Italian national ski team since 23 August 2026. Following consultations with team staff and the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI), medical officials decided that she should discontinue on-snow activities immediately and fly back to Italy. Federation and medical officials noted that the symptoms may stem from a viral infection or acute fatigue resulting from high-intensity pre-season workouts.

The Italian Winter Sports Federation announced the early withdrawal in an official statement on 12 September 2026:

The Bergamo champion, bronze medalist in the Olympic downhill at Milano Cortina 2026 and winner of the Super-G World Cup last season, experienced ailments during her stay in Ushuaia that had lasted since last 23 August, and in agreement with the FISI Medical Commission chaired by Dr. Andrea Panzeri, decided to return to Italy to undergo relevant tests in the coming days.

Disrupted South American training schedule

The unexpected medical return alters an extensive preparation timetable that the Italian speed specialist had mapped out across South America. Under her original itinerary, Goggia was scheduled to remain at the Argentine ski station in Ushuaia until Friday 18 September 2026 before transferring to Chile for further training until early October. Alternative scheduling outlines had pointed to a final South American departure date of 26 September 2026. Top international ski racers routinely travel to Southern Hemisphere locations such as Tierra del Fuego in August and September to train on winter snow conditions, as European glaciers suffer from worsening summer snow depletion. Federal medical commission president Dr. Andrea Panzeri determined that thorough clinical testing in Italy takes precedence over remaining in South America, with on-snow work planned to resume on European glaciers as soon as her health is restored.

Structure of the 2026–2027 World Cup season

The international competitive circuit begins in late autumn, leaving a limited window for Goggia to complete her recovery and preparation. The 2026–2027 Alpine Ski World Cup launches on 24 October 2026 with the women's giant slalom on the Rettenbach glacier in Sölden, Austria, and concludes on 25 March 2027 in Sun Valley, United States. The women's World Cup calendar encompasses 40 individual races distributed across 20 tour stops. The schedule is divided into 12 giant slaloms, 10 slaloms, 9 downhills, and 9 super-G events. Beyond the regular World Cup circuit, the 2027 Alpine World Ski Championships will take place in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, while American skier Mikaela Shiffrin enters the winter as the defending overall crystal globe winner.

Recent achievements and outlook for Sölden

Goggia enters the approaching competitive cycle following podium finishes on the international stage during the 2025–2026 campaign. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, she captured the bronze medal in the women's downhill event on home snow. She also claimed the World Cup super-G discipline title last season, reinforcing her position at the top of the Italian speed team. The sudden interruption of her South American camp leaves open whether she will take part in the season opener at Sölden on 24 October 2026. Medical specialists will determine whether she can race in Austria or should instead postpone her competitive return until subsequent speed stops in November and December.