Matteo Franzoso GEPA pictures
Tragic Fall in La Parva
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Italian alpine skier Matteo Franzoso has died after suffering severe head injuries in a training crash at La Parva, about 30 miles from the Chilean capital, according to FISI.org.
The 25-year-old fell during Saturday’s session when he misjudged a small jump and was thrown forward into the safety fences. He slid over two rows of nets before striking a barrier six to seven meters off the course. An air ambulance flew him to a Santiago clinic, where doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. Despite intensive care, he did not recover from cerebral edema caused by the trauma. Franzoso would have turned 26 on Sept. 16.
Career Highlights
Franzoso, known for his cheerful personality, built a steady career in speed racing. He placed fourth in downhill at the 2020 Junior World Championships in Narvik. He earned his lone European Cup victory in a super-G in Zinal, Switzerland, in November 2021. That same season, he debuted on the World Cup circuit in Val Gardena.
Over his career, he made 17 World Cup starts, highlighted by a 28th-place super-G finish in Cortina d’Ampezzo in January 2023. He also won the Italian combined title in 2023. His most recent World Cup race came last March in Kvitfjell, Norway.
Training with Italian Teammates
He had joined Italian speed teammates Mattia Casse, Florian Schieder, Guglielmo Bosca, Christof Innerhofer, Benjamin Alliod, Nicolò Molteni, Marco Abbruzzese, and Giovanni Franzoni in Chile on Sept. 6. Veteran Dominik Paris also trained with the group.
Words from the Federation
“This is a tragedy for the family and for our sport,” FISI President Flavio Roda said. “It’s a tragedy that brings us back to the state of mind we had just under a year ago, when Matilde Lorenzi passed away. It’s absolutely essential to do everything possible to ensure that such incidents never happen again. In this sad and painful moment, I want to tell all athletes and coaches, from all sports, that the Federation is by their side and that they will find all the support they need. I ask for the utmost respect for Matteo’s family, whom we will support for whatever is necessary.”
Second Loss in a Year
Franzoso’s death marks another tragedy for the Italian team in less than a year, following the loss of teammate Matilde Lorenzi, who died in a training accident last fall.
Mourning Across Italian Skiing
FISI leaders, coaches, staff, and athletes joined in mourning his death, offering condolences to his family during what they called a moment of profound grief.
An Instagram image reported in the Krone Zeitung
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