Friday 17th December 2021
Drama for Olympic ski champion
Avalanche accident takes her brother
What a drama on the mountain: an avalanche accident tears Jacopo Compagnoni to his death. The experienced mountain guide is the brother of Italy’s ski icon Deborah Compagnoni. It breaks the 51-year-old’s heart.
Italy’s ski icon Deborah Compagnoni mourns the loss of her brother. Jacopo Compagnoni had an avalanche accident in northern Italy’s Valtellina Valley on Thursday. The mountain guide had just descended from Monte Sobretta when an avalanche 100 meters wide broke off. Compagnoni was carried away at an altitude of around 2,850 meters.
“Losing a brother breaks your heart, especially when it comes to a special brother, as Jacopo was for me,” said three-time Olympic champion Compagnoni. He was also “a wonderful father and husband”, “he always had a smile when he came home from his summer or winter trips and hugged his beloved daughters. I am sure that his soul will be waiting for me in the mountains whenever I miss him. ” She thanked everyone “who wrote to me and who are close to me and my family”.
A companion who was not injured immediately alerted the rescue workers, and Compagnoni was finally brought to Sondalo hospital by helicopter. The 40-year-old who ran a hotel in Santa Caterina Valfurva died there.
His last post on Instagram four days ago reminded of the danger that exists in the mountains. He also called for people to remain vigilant and posted photos of smaller avalanches. Now it hit him himself.
Deborah Compagnoni won gold in the Super-G as a ski racer at the 1992 Winter Games, followed by Olympic victories in giant slalom in 1994 and 1998. The now 51-year-old was also three times world champion, she was Italy’s most successful female ski racer of the 1990s.