Tragedy on ski slopes: Fatal accident during training leaves Italian skier deceased
Italian downhill skier Matteo Franzoso has tragically passed away at the age of 25, following a training crash at the ski resort of La Parva near Santiago de Chile. The news was confirmed by the Italian winter sports federation Fisi after two days of uncertainty.
The accident occurred six weeks before the start of the Olympic season, and Franzoso lost control on a relatively small jump and veered off course. He penetrated two safety nets and collided with a fence about seven meters off the track.
Doctors diagnosed Franzoso with a skull-brain trauma and placed him in an induced coma, but ultimately, they were unable to save his life. His parents and a brother flew to Chile immediately after the accident.
Matteo Franzoso made his World Cup debut in December 2021 and competed in 17 elite races in downhill and super-G, finishing in the top 30 twice. His most recent top 30 finish was as 30th in the super-G at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, last February.
The crash occurred while Franzoso was preparing for the upcoming winter with his teammates, including Dominik Paris. Italy's federation president Flavio Roda described the incident as a tragedy for Franzoso's family and the sport.
"This is a tragedy for Matteo's family and for the entire Italian skiing community," Roda said. "Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."
The accident unfortunately echoed a similar tragedy that occurred less than a year ago, when another young Italian skier, Matilde Lorenzi, died from a training crash at the age of 19 in October 2024.
American ski star Lindsey Vonn expressed her sadness about the incident on Instagram Story. Vonn was in Chile three weeks prior to the accident.
"I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Matteo Franzoso," Vonn wrote. "My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time."
The search results do not provide information about the name of Matteo Franzoso's trainer during his time in the Italian ski team before his fatal accident in Chile. Franzoso would have turned 26 years old on Tuesday.
Rest in peace, Matteo Franzoso. You will be deeply missed by the skiing community and beyond.
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