Lara Colturi: “If I were 10 years old, I’d have pictures of Federica Brignone in my room”

Lara Colturi gave a lengthy interview to Francesca Marsaglia on Eurosport in which she looked back on her career: “For me, speed is the foundation. I grew up with a mom who won an Olympic gold medal in Super-G, and my first major achievement was the junior world title in that very discipline. An injury slowed me down, but deep down, the desire for speed has always been there.”

Ski technician Andrea Vianello has also played an important role in her development; throughout his career, he has worked with champions such as Tina Maze, Viktoria Rebensburg, and Julia Mancuso, as well as Alberto Tomba: “Andrea has an amazing touch—he can tell right away if a ski isn’t right. Sometimes he plays little tricks to try to fool me, but I always catch him! I often ask him about Tomba or his former athletes, especially to understand the mental aspect and how they managed stress.”

One of her greatest thrills is the chance to race alongside the champions she admired as a child. “When I was little, I didn’t have posters, just photos: Lindsey Vonn, Marcel Hirscher, and of course Mikaela Shiffrin. To think that I’m racing alongside them now is incredible. But if I were 10 years old today? I’d have a photo of Federica Brignone in my room. Given how Lindsey bounced back after every injury, my role model today would be ‘Fede’.”

A reference that also highlights the value of resilience—essential for a young athlete who has already had to endure a long hiatus. With a revamped support team, the desire to keep improving, and a mindset that allows her to handle the pressure without losing her spontaneity, Lara Colturi is gearing up for a new season with ever-greater ambitions.