It was perhaps not the most expected winner, but one of the most gratifying based on the conditions and background leading up to Thursday's competition.
With one Olympic silver and two bronze medals, 35-year-old Brignone had achieved great success, but not quite there. For a long time, it looked like she wouldn't even be able to compete at the Olympics on home soil.
Rewind to April last year, when the Italian was involved in an extremely serious crash in the giant slalom at the Italian Championships. In addition to several fractures, Brignone also tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and had to undergo several surgeries.
Right then and there, the Olympic dream seemed to be over.
The tiger roared back
At the end of January this year, she, who goes by the nickname "tiger", made a comeback on the ski slopes. However, it has not been a return without obstacles. Television images during training for Thursday's race showed her crying in pain afterwards.
Brignone was also one of four flag bearers for Italy at the opening ceremony. However, the pain in her leg meant that she was temporarily helped by curler Amos Mosaner, who carried her on his shoulders.
Not optimal
The competition conditions were not optimal for her or anyone else on the super-G slope. The fog meant that five of the eight starting competitors, including German Emma Aicher, who has Swedish connections, did not finish.
Among those who crashed out of the competition were one of the pre-race favorites, Breezy Johnson, and home favorite Sofia Goggia.
Once at the finish line, Federica Brignone raised her poles into the sky, aware that her time would stand - ultimately all the way to her first Olympic gold and also as the oldest gold medalist ever in women's alpine skiing.
In the end, 0.41 seconds separated the runner-up, Romane Miradoli of France.
