Promising ski champion Matilde Lorenzi dies aged 19 after training accident

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced that 19-year-old Italian champion skier Matilde Lorenzi died due to the injuries she received during a skiing accident. It was announced on Tuesday.

Lorenzi suffered a traumatic brain injury when he fell and hit his head on the hard track while training on the Schnalstal Glacier on Monday.

In the statement made by the organization, it was said: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Matilde Lorenzi.” “FIS joins the entire Italian winter sports community in mourning, including FISI (Italian Winter Sports Federation) President Flavio Roda and coaches, athletes, teammates, the federal council and all FISI staff.”

“(Lorenzi) was tragically lost after falling during practice at the Grawand G1 circuit in Val Senales,” the outlet reported.

After his fall, Lorenzi was airlifted to a hospital near Bolzano, but his head wounds could not heal.

His death was announced shortly afterwards by the Italian Ministry of National Defense, to which he was affiliated as a sports soldier, a state-funded military service.

“This is a tragic loss,” gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn wrote on Instagram. “I send my thoughts to his family.”

Lorenzi, a native of Villarbasse, a commune in Italy’s Turin Metropolis, made his professional debut in 2020 at the junior race in Santa Caterina Valfurva.

During his fledgling career he competed almost exclusively in FIS races in Italy.

After the 2023-24 season, Lorenzi became the Italian champion in the Super-G league and twice finished in the top 15 in the European Cup.

He also participated in the 2024 Junior World Championships in the Haute-Savoie division, where he finished fourth in the Alpine Team Combined.

“FISI mourns and stands with her family, friends and all those who cared for Matilde, honoring her memory today and always,” FIS said.