Death Fanchini: the tears of the blue. Goggia: ‘Consumed by tears’

From our correspondent Paolo Marabini

February 9th
– MERIBEL

In the end, it doesn’t matter much about her test, the second of the descent that will see her compete on Saturday, in the hunt for the world gold medal that she still lacks. Third time, but with a missed goal, 17 and 16 cents behind the Austrians Venier and Puchner. The thought of Sofia Goggia, like that of all the blue girls, all at the start with mourning on their arms, as well as the men in the Courchevel super-G, was elsewhere. It was extremely difficult to get back on track with a heavy heart, eyes swollen with tears, a few hours after the death of Elena Fanchini, the 37-year-old from Brescia, world silver in the downhill race in 2005 in Santa Caterina Valfurva, struck down by cancer of the intestine, discovered five years ago and then reappeared last August, relentless.

ROOMMATES

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Laura Pirovano, the first of the blues at the gate, and the first to pass through the corridor reserved for the press, would like to remain alone in her silence. She tries to draft a few words, but she bursts into tears again. 15-20 seconds go by, she finds the strength to talk about her former partner, even if she, born in 1997, is of the next generation. “We had time to spend a couple of years together as a team-she remembers-she and once in Argentina we even shared the same room for a month. I will always remember her smile, especially her optimism. With all the things she’s been through, all those injuries, she was always looking ahead.” Elena Curtoni also arrives, who has shared many seasons with Elena: same region, Lombardy, same favorite specialties: downhill and super-G. But the Valtellina goes straight on, head down, with a lump in her throat.

SOFIA’S REGRET

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Sofia also has that knot. Here I am. She and Elena were great friends: seven years apart, they also competed for the same club, Rongai di Pisogne, where the Bergamo native was coached by Denis Ottelli Zoletti, who would later become Elena’s husband. In Cortina, on 20 January, after the downhill victory, Sofia dedicated the red bib to her friend. “It’s a pity she didn’t have time to give it to him, as I promised her- the Olympian whispers, her eyes swollen-. It was devastating news, at the end of a day that had been one of joy, for Marta’s (Bassino, ed) gold which arrived immediately after that of Fede (Brignone, ed). It’s part of those news you never want to come: even if you know it will come sooner or later, you’re never ready to hear it. Today I am consumed by tears. I had a very difficult night, we all had it. And this morning I was completely thrown. We all joined in a sincere and supportive embrace, we cried as a group. We will try to put all of ourselves into the competition, Elena certainly would like this. Her genuineness and authenticity made her special, we join silently and with so much solidarity in the pain of her family, we are sure that on Saturday she will give us something more during the descent ”..”. Among the many messages of condolence, after that of Mikaela Shiffrin (“Elena will not be forgotten, I am close to the Italian team, which has pure love”), that of Lindsey Vonn also arrived, who entrusted her thoughts to Instagram: And ‘ a huge loss for the big family and the skiing community” wrote the US champion, for several years opponent of Brescia in the same specialties. Anja Paerson, the 41-year-old Swede who had also fought many times with Elena, remembered her by posting a photo of her, without any words ”.