OfFernando Pellerano
The news from the Italian Winter Sports Federation: «It was he who made sure that Alberto became the great skiing champion»
Mourning for Alberto Tomba. The father of the ski champion passed away on Saturday 4 May Franco Tombaleaving a large void in the villa of Castel De’ Britti. He was 84 years old. The Olympian’s very strong bond with his family and his parents is well known mother Maria Grazia of course and then dad Franco. Furthermore, it is thanks to them that Alberto became the planetary champion that he was. Fundamental figures therefore, capable of directing the liveliness and athleticism that the little one Alberta was already showing off in the large garden of the house on the hills of San Lazzaro. Franco, even more reserved than his wife, has always followed and supported Alberto’s exploits, also taking strong paternal positions such as when the champion was undecided whether to also compete in the Super-Gs, which were considered too dangerous for him by his parentsgiven the accident he got into Val-d’Isère: better not to dispute them. Never mind if without those points he wouldn’t have had to win the World Cup.
The mourning of the National Winter Sports Federation
There is also a reminder of the importance of the relationship between Franco and Alberto family friend Flavio Roda, president of Fisi (the Italian Winter Sports Federation), «Franco is the one who made Alberto become the champion that everyone knows, but he did it in an elegant way and with great seriousness. I want to remember an anecdote. He told me: Flavio, make them ski in all conditions, also referring to his brother Marco and cousin Simona. Do you know how to trace? Well, listen to their feelings…”
Phone calls home
They are all close to Alberto, who always called his mother Maria Grazia after each race, even at the beginning when in the national team there were only South Tyroleans and Valle d’Aosta with him the only ‘citizen’, who started from the small mountains of the Apennines (and then later also went to the Ampezzo valley of
Curtain) who risked isolation. Always behind the scenes, Franco he asked for greater protection for him from the federation and the Carabinieri during the trials for tax evasion, threatening that he would take away his skis. Franco leaves behind his wife Maria Grazia and their three children, Alberto, Alessia and Marco. For sample one painful emotional slalomwith very narrow doors from which we hope he will still emerge peacefully.
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May 4, 2024 (modified May 5, 2024 | 10:25)
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