Promising Italian skier Matilde Lorenzi has died of her injuries after an accident in training on Monday on the Val Senales glacier in South Tyrol, the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old was part of the Italian army group and a member of the third national team.
According to preliminary reports, she was training on the Gravard G1 slope when she fell and violently hit her face on the icy ground.
Lorenzi, a native of Villarbasse near Turin, won the Italian title in Alpine skiing last year and ranked eighth at the 2023 Alpine world junior championships in Chatel, France, among other achievements.
There was a huge outpouring of grief and condolences after Lorenzi's death.Premier Giorgia Meloni said: "The terrible news of the premature death of Corporal Matilde Lorenzi, 19 years old, a promising Italian skier, who died following a very serious fall during training, truly saddens me. I join in the grief of her family, colleagues and the entire Army Sports Center".
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: "I am saddened by the passing of Matilde Lorenzi, a promising Italian skier, at only 20 years old. A crystalline talent broken by fate. I join her family, friends, and teammates of the Army sports group in mourning. Rest in peace, young champion."
Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said: "A piece of news we never wanted to read. A prayer for Matilde and a big hug to her family."
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and the defence ministry said they "express their deepest condolences and join in an ideal embrace with the family and colleagues of Corporal Matilde Lorenzi, an Army athlete and promising Italian skier, who tragically passed away following a very serious accident that occurred during a training session".
The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, "upon learning the tragic news of the death of Corporal Matilde Lorenzi, an athlete of the Italian Army and a promising Italian skier, following a very serious accident that occurred during training", expressed to the soldier's family, to the Chief of the Army Staff, General of the Army Corps Carmine Masiello and to the Italian Army, "his feelings of deep condolences and his most heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Armed Forces".
Italian Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malagò said: "There are no adequate words in the face of this tragedy. We join the family in their deep condolences, together with the FISI and the Centro Sportivo Esercito, expressing the closeness of all Italian sports for the passing of Matilde, with the intent of keeping alive her memory and the example promoted with her talent and her passion for skiing".
Italian skiing star Sofia Goggia, former Olympic downhill champ and four-time World Cup downhill title winner, said she sent a prayer for Lorenzi and her family.
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