Sofia Goggia in Bathing Suit Feels "Brave"

Olympic ski champion Sofia Goggia is reminiscing about a very special trip to Dubai—and sharing the pictures with her many fans. Goggia posted a photo of herself standing in the desert sand next to a camel, wearing a black two-piece swimsuit. "I feel brave in posting as the first photo one of the few I have in costume taken during the only apparition of the sun," she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Goggia stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

Goggia says rest is important for physical and mental recovery. "The end of the season is when we athletes enjoy a well-deserved break," she says. "This is not only to give our bodies a rest after a busy winter. It is also very important to analyze the situation in a lucid, clinical and complete way. You need to look at what you did well and where you went wrong. Only then can you understand where to focus and where you need to reset in order to start over and improve. For a complete break this year I allowed myself a nice holiday in the sunny Maldives!"

Goggia's training regimen can be intense, so she makes sure it's also fun. "When training in Verona I always do a twenty minute warm-up session before breakfast, and then I train from 8 to 11.30 a.m. For the second training of the day I focus on quality and rest," she says. "So from 4.30 to 7 p.m. I do an activity that is ancillary to that which we train in the gym, namely strength, power and agility. I usually choose between skating, roller skiing and cycling. Secondary activities that are a good workout but that also allow you to switch off and have some fun." 

Goggia has a cabin she escapes to when she wants to get away from modern life and just enjoy the basics. "Camping provides a host of benefits. Simply put, camping is good for you, both in body and mind," says Christina Pay, MSHE. "Benefits include relationship building, opportunities to learn and develop new skills, unplugging and getting away from screens, connecting with nature, stress reduction, and increasing physical fitness. The fitness benefits of camping are well documented. Research suggests that physical activity in the outdoors and feelings of connection to nature enhance psychological health and well-being. Activities such as walking in forests and participating in outdoor activities have been shown to enhance mood and focus, and increase attention and cognitive capacity."

Goggia enjoys e-biking on the weekends. "Riding an e-bike, like other forms of active transport, can be as good for the person doing it as for the environment," says Helaine Alessio, chair of the department of kinesiology at Miami University.

Goggia knows the importance of nurturing her mental health as well as her physical performance. "Training your head is important," she says. "In fact, they say the head is everything. I feel I was in really disastrous physical shape when I won at the Olympics. But I was calm and relaxed, aware that I had worked to the best of my ability, especially throughout the fifty days before the race. I believe  that, at some point in your career, you make the difference also and especially with mental work, and not just with the acquisition of skills anymore. It is also true that those who always seek something extra are able to innovate and keep up with the times. You have to remember that although you get certain results one year, it's no longer enough to achieve the same results the following year, you always have to add something."