Italian ski racer Matteo Franzoso has died following a training accident in Chile, the Italian Winter Sports Federation (Fisi) announced today. He was 25 years old and would have turned 26 on Saturday.The tragedy strikes the alpine skiing world as Franzoso was preparing for the upcoming World Cup season alongside Italy’s top racers, including Dominik Paris, at the La Parva ski area near Santiago de Chile. His death underscores the inherent risks faced by athletes in high-speed sports and represents a significant loss for the Italian team.
Franzoso suffered a severe injury during training and was immediately transported to a clinic in Santiago, where he was placed in a medically induced coma.Despite the efforts of medical staff,he succumbed to his injuries. Fisi President Flavio Roda described the event as “a tragedy for his family and for our sport.”
The young athlete made his World Cup debut in December 2021, competing in 17 races across the downhill and Super-G disciplines. He achieved two top-30 finishes during his World Cup career, demonstrating promising potential within the sport.
