She was only 37 years old
Italy’s ski star Elena Fanchini is dead
2/9/2023, 12:16 am
Italian skier Elena Fanchini has died at the age of 37 after a long battle with cancer. The speed specialist won 2005 World Championship silver in the downhill. In this discipline she also celebrated her two World Cup victories.
Former Italian ski racer Elena Fanchini died at the age of 37 after suffering from cancer. A spokesman for the Italian association Fisi confirmed this on request after Italian media had previously reported. Fanchini died in her home near Brescia, according to Fisi.
Fanchini has been plagued with injuries throughout her career, most notably to her knees, which she says were “made of glass”. She missed the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and was badly injured on her return later that year after having surgery for a tumour: she fell in training and suffered a broken finger, a broken fibula and a severe contusion of her left knee.
The cancer then broke out again last August, as reported by Italian media. Compatriot Sofia Goggia recently dedicated her victory in the downhill from Cortina d’Ampezzo. US superstar Mikaela Shiffrin said on the sidelines of the Alpine World Ski Championships in Courchevel and Meribel, France, that she would “never forget” Fanchini.
In addition to second place at the 2005 World Cup, two World Cup victories were the greatest successes in Elena Fanchini’s sports career, during which she also suffered a number of injuries. Her sister Nadia, who is one year younger, was also a successful downhill skier in the Italian team.