Matteo Franzoso didn't make it: the Italian skier died in Chile, he was not yet 26 years old

The world of Italian sports, and skiing in particular, mourns the death at just 25 years old (he would have been 26 on Sept. 16) of Matteo Franzoso. The Italian skier did not overcome the consequences of the cerebral edema created after a terrible fall on Saturday, during a training session on the slope of La Parva, 50 km from Santiago de Chile.

“It is a tragedy for the family and for our sport – said Flavio Roda, president of the Italian Winter Sports Federation -, a drama that brings us back to the state of mind of just under a year ago, when Matilde Lorenzi disappeared. It is absolutely necessary to do everything possible to ensure that such episodes” are not repeated.

Three lives cut short in not even a year

“In this sad and painful moment I want to say to all athletes and technicians, of all sports, that the Federation is at their side and that they will find all the support they need – said again the top executive of Fisi – I ask for the utmost respect for Matteo’s family, to whom we will stay close for whatever will be necessary”.

Born Sept. 15, 1999, Matteo Franzoso had arrived in La Parva last Sept. 6 for the Chilean snow training session along with the other Italian sprinters. Fourth at the Junior World Championships in Narvik in 2020, Franzoso made his European Cup debut in 2017, winning a race in 2021 in Zinal. That same year he made his World Cup debut, where he would collect a total of 17 appearances (11 in Super-G and six in downhill), with a best finish of 28th in the super-G in Cortina in 2023. Also in 2023 he won the Italian title in the combined. His last Cup race was in Kvitfjell, in March 2025.