Industry News
Italian speed skier Valentina Greggio etched her name in the record books on Saturday, February 1, becoming the first woman to post a faster time than her male counterparts in a World Cup speed skiing event. Racing down the iconic slope in Vars, France, Greggio clocked an astonishing 202.140 kilometers per hour—edging out men’s winner Simone Origone, who topped out at 202.120 kilometers per hour.
Greggio’s feat transcends gender divisions in the sport, marking a historic first in World Cup speed skiing. Her run was not only the fastest of the day but also reinforced her dominance this season, securing her fourth consecutive victory of the 2025 World Cup campaign. Swedish skiers Agnes Abrahamsson (197.300 kilometers per hour) and Siri Kling Andersson (194.320 kilometers per hour) rounded out the women’s podium, but it was Greggio’s achievement that stunned the ski racing world.
The 33-year-old from Masera, Italy, is no stranger to setting records. She has claimed six overall World Cup titles—more than any other speed skier in history—and four Speed Skiing Crystal Globes. But for Greggio, what truly matters is raw speed. In 2016, she became the fastest woman on skis, hitting 247.083 kilometers per hour in Vars, a record that still stands nearly a decade later. Yet Saturday’s milestone was different. “We women raced after the men, and I was last to go, which helps,” Greggio said. “But let’s be clear—the conditions were the same for everyone.” Initially unaware of the significance of her time, she assumed the men had gone even faster. “I thought they had done 203 or 204 kilometers per hour, so I just figured I had won the women’s race. Then my teammate Samuele Capello ran up to me and said, ‘You had the best speed of all.’”
Greggio’s performance wasn’t just another World Cup victory—it was a moment that reshaped the landscape of speed skiing. Her ability to outpace the men on the same course, under identical conditions, challenges long-standing assumptions about gender in extreme sports. Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Origone continued his legendary career with his 62nd World Cup victory, besting French competitors Simon Billy (201.860 kilometers per hour) and Bastien Montes (201.180 kilometers per hour). Slovakia’s Michal Bekes (200.660 kilometers per hour) and Germany’s Marc Amann (200.650 kilometers per hour) completed the top five, with seven racers surpassing the 200 kilometers per hour mark.
With her latest victory, Greggio further cements her place in speed skiing history. As the World Cup heads to Formigal, Spain, from February 10-13, the question isn’t just whether she can maintain her winning streak—but whether she can redefine what’s possible in the sport.
