LIVIGNO (ITALPRESS) – A few weeks ago the attention of the world media was catalyzed by Lindsey Vonn’s attempt to center an Olympic medal in the free descent, and to do so despite a injury to the crusader bond reported to Crans-Montana and a few days from the Games. Italy, however, silently had its history to tell about it, which ended in a very different way than the unfortunate epilogue of the American. Only 18 years old, in fact, Flora Tabanelli has won a historic Olympic medal in the Big Air and has given the first joy to five circles to freestyle blue, a discipline too often underestimated, that here had conquered a fifth place (in Beijing) with Leonardo Donaggio. An incredible result for the predestined blue, who could already say he won everything in career: World Cup and a gold medal at X Games.
Only the Olympic medal was missing, which seemed substantially impossible at the beginning of November, when Flora Tabanelli had been hit by a terrible injury. After a fall in training, the diagnosis was indeed terrible: injury of the right knee crusader. It could have been the tombstone on the Olympic hopes of the 18-year-old blue, who instead opted for a courageous and shared choice with the medical staff of the Fisi: conservative therapy, very few races and assault on an Olympic medal, costs what costs.
A move that paid as Italy celebrates a sumptuous podium in freestyle and Big Air a hundred days later. Ten disciplines of medal in the Games of Milan-Cortina 2026, to -1 from the record of the United States, and 23 medals with the eleventh bronze. The Flora Tabanelli race, despite the pain and tension of the Home Olimpiade, was simply perfect. Blue opted for an initial risk, playing the most complex trick to immediately place a potential medal score. That said and done, since with 90 points he was third in tandem with the legend Eileen Gu, behind the Austrian Wolf (93.50) and the Canadian Oldham (91.75). In the second run came a safety score from 84 points, then a decision was made: try to improve the first or second attempt. With the podium on the horizon and in his hands, Flora Tabanelli decided to aim perfectly in the most complex trick, obtaining it: 94.25 points, the best score of day, and bronze assured.
Italy thus celebrated its 23rd medal with a total of 178.25 points for Flora Tabanelli, very close to both gold and silver: victory for the Canadian Meghan Oldham (180.75), with Eileen Gu d’argento (179) and Italy third. A historical day for freestyle and for our sport, which continues to rewrite every primacy in the Olympic Games of Milan-Cortina 2026.
LE PRIME PAROLE DOPO IL BRONZO
“I don’t know how I did it. Luckily the pains were a little past, I tried not to think about it. What I knew to do before I know how to do it now: the leg is fit and I’m here, so I was very happy. This is a beautiful Olympiad for Italy and its athletes, I am pleased to be among them: Federica Brignone was inspired by me.” So Flora Tabanelli after her third place. The blue then tells his race and his emotions: “I tried, I gave everything trying to improve on the jump from 1600 and it went well. I dedicate this medal to all those who supported me these months, I discovered wonderful people. I was born on the snow that forged me, I grew up with the idea that sport is the most positive thing of all and this gives me emotion every day. The most important thing I think is to go ahead and always believe in yourself. I tried to face this race as if it was one of the many, I think it was this that made me stand out.”.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
