Promising ski champ Mathilde Lorenzi dies aged 19 after training crash

Matilde Lorenzi, a 19-year-old champion skier from Italy, has died from injuries she suffered during a skiing accident, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced on Tuesday.

Lorenzi was training on the Snalstal glacier on Monday when he fell and hit his head on the hard piste, suffering a traumatic brain injury.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Matilde Lorenzi,” the company said in a statement. “FIS joins FISI [Italian Winter Sports Federation] President Flavio Roda and the entire Italian winter sports community, including coaches, athletes, teammates, the Federal Council and all FISI staff, are in mourning.”

“[Lorenzi] Tragically lost after falling during a training session on the Graund G1 slope in Val Senales,” the agency said.

Lorenzi was airlifted to a hospital in nearby Bolzano after the fall but never recovered from his head injuries.

His death was soon announced by the Italian Ministry of National Defence, where he was attached as a sports soldier – a member of the military that is funded by the state.

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

A resident of Villarbus, a commune in the Italian metropolitan city of Turin, Lorenzi made his professional debut in 2020 in a junior race at Santa Caterina Valfurva.

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

After the 2023–24 season Lorenzi was crowned Italian champion in the Super-G League and he twice finished in the top 15 in the European Cup.

He also competed in the 2024 Junior World Championships in the Haute-Savoie category, where he finished fourth in the Alpine Team Combine.

“FISI mourns, her family, friends and those who nurtured Matilde, today and always stand by her memory,” FIS said.