Milan Cortina: Tomba, “I’ll explain why games are a showcase for whole Italy”

The games of Milan Cortina “will be great Olympics”, “a unique opportunity for our country, a showcase for the territories concerned and for the whole of Italy”: it is the message that Alberto Tomba, in an exclusive interview with the agi Lancia in view of the next winter Olympic Games of Milan Cortina 2026. For the ‘bomb’ the blue expedition will be asserted: “The female one is the strongest team ever and in fast disciplines are unbeatable: Sofia (Goggia, ed) and Federica (Brignone) They are bringing our tricolor high but men could also give us a lot of satisfaction “.
Alberto Tomba, 58, was the skier who with his successes, including daring, including three golds and two Olympic silver, enhanced millions of Italians, the athlete who revolutionized the skiing, the character envied from all over the world Because he transformed the Alpine skiing into an open -air show after the silent epic of Ingemar Stenmark. Alberto Tomba was the athlete with an innate determination, an Emilian with an extroverted character, always with the ready joke, capable of recalling the crowds in the parterre and the margins of the slopes.
On February 27, 1988 for the second heat of the special slalom of the Calgary Olympics, then won, the Rai interrupted the final of the Sanremo Festival. For all this and much more has been renamed by the media ‘tomb La Bomba’.

‘Albertone’ numbers are impressive5 Olympic medals (3 golds, giant slalom and slalom in Calgary ’88, giant at Albertville ’92), 4 worlds (2 golds in Sierra Nevada ’96), the general world cup won in 1995 and 50 wins (88 podiums ) in the World Cup (there would also be the one in the 1988 parallel in Saalbach but was not counted). Tomba was carabiniere, trained by a legend of skiing, Gustav Thoeni – Alberto a Bolognese volcanic and Gustavo a South Tyrolean of very few words – and it was already immediately a phenomenon in skiing: it was December 1984 when he won the then traditional parallel of Christmas. The debut in the World Cup on December 15, 1985, the first podium on December 14 of the following year, second in the high Badia giant won by Richard Pramotton, and the first four victories on Italian snow, from 27 November 1987 to December 16 between Sestriere (slalom and giant), Alta Badia (giant) and Madonna di Campiglio (slalom, with the belt of a broken boot!).

To the question because it cares so much to remember that the victories are 51, Tomb replies: “For me there are 51, I have always worked so much to win, behind every victory or podium achieved there is a lot of work and sacrifice that only those who compete can know “.

– What meaning do the Olympics for an athlete have?

“They are the most anticipated sporting event, they represent a unique moment of brotherhood and union for all the peoples of the world. For an athlete I participate is a dream, winning them … you can only imagine, they are unique and indescribable emotions “.

– What do you think will leave Italy and the world of the Milan Cortina 2026 to Italy?

“Anyone who would like the Olympics in their country. The organizing committee is working to ensure that these games are a unique opportunity for our country, a showcase for the territories concerned and for the whole of Italy. I know you are working because they are sustainable and able to bring added value: they will be great Olympics “.

– How do you evaluate the ‘state of health’ of Italian skiing, men and women?

“The female one is the strongest team ever and in fast disciplines are unbeatable. Sofia (Goggia, ed) and Federica (Brignone) are bringing our tricolor high but men could also give us a lot of satisfaction in Milan Cortina “.

– What do you remember with greater pleasure as an athlete?

“I always say, the difficult is not to win, but it is to re-enc. Certainly the most beautiful memory is linked to Albertville ’92 where I had the reconfirmation in giant. Calgary were the light -hearted Olympics. At twenty years you live everything in a simpler way and without pressure “.

– Is there a location to which it is particularly fond of?

“The Apennines certainly because it reminds me of my childhood, where I learned to ski (horn to the stairs, editor’s note), then there is Madonna di Campiglio for the emotion that the Canalone Miramonti gave me”.

– Why was the tomb-compagnoni phenomenon unique?

“For the simplicity with which we presented ourselves, true and authentic. Deborah touched the hearts of people not only for the victories, but also for having expressed a very sober and elegant femininity. I for the strength and exuberance I started. They were different times, but we both represented the model of sportsmen close to people “.

– What does Alberto Tomba do today?

“I am still very tied to the mountain – concludes the great champion of the 90s -. I often go to the races, both male and female, and I never lack my messages of encouragement to the team. In addition, I am ambassador for tourism in the Emilia Romagna Region. Today I have fun going with the skins: two hours to go up and two minutes to go down ”.