There was a time when it Alpine skiing it was a very popular sport in Italy. The time in which even for the less enthusiastic, snow was almost as important as a field of grass and the RAI suspended the Festival of Sanremo to allow everyone to follow the undisputed champion, the "Bomb". That was the time to Alberto Tomba, the one who made Italy (sports) great in the world and who today, December 19, celebrates 54 years full of successes, with his own 50 victories in World Cup. Genius and recklessness, Tomba was a giant among the ski slopes, but also a media personality, very well known in the 90s. His outgoing character and his being at ease in front of the cameras have made him one of the most loved sportsmen in the country.
A champion's life
Emilian by birth (Castel de 'Britti, Fraction San Lazzaro at the gates of Bologna), Tomba approached alpine skiing at a very young age. His competitive debut took place in 1983, at the age of 17 years, competing as a team C2 in European Cup in Sweden. Promoted in C1 and then in B, the following year he imposed himself among the great skiers, beating the athletes of team A in the "Parallel to Christmas" to Milano. Since then, Alberto Tomba's career has been a succession of victories. The debut in World Cup it happened in 1986, but the first podium came only the following year, a second place in the race of big laugh ofAlta Badia. In his World Cup career, in addition to 50 victories (35 in special slalom and the remaining ones 15 in giant), it will place itself 26 times higher al second e 12 times higher al third.
In 1988, on the occasion of Calgary Winter Olympic Games (Canada), Alberto Tomba won two gold medals in giant slalom and special slalom. Precisely that was the occasion in which the RAI he decided to interrupt Sanremo to allow the Italians to cheer for the blue. Four years later, at Albertville Winter Olympics (United States), Tomba managed to win another gold in giant slalom e a silver in the special slalom. As regards the World competitions, among the achievements of Alberto Tomba there are a bronze a Crans-Montana in 87 (giant slalom), 2 times in the World Cup Sierra Nevada '96 (special and giant) and another bronze at the World Cup in Sestriere in '97 (special slalom).
Covid-19: Tomba's appeal to the government to reopen the ski resorts
Testimonial for the promotion of sport, recently Tomba made headlines for supporting the cause of the reopening of the ski slopes. With the Prime Ministerial Decree of 3 December, the government has ordered the closure of the ski resorts to avoid gatherings and possible new infections from Covid-19. Together with the champion Federica Brignon, current holder of the Ski World Cup, Alberto Tomba has appealed to the government for the reopening of the plants, because, according to the sample "skiing is an individual, outdoor sport and there is no problem of distancing. You just need to check the shelters, as happens in restaurants". Despite this, the appeal seems to have not yet had any effect.
Tomba is what skiing is for pantani it was for cycling: a pure talent. After his retirement in 1998, Tomba gradually moved away from the scene, but not from the hearts of the fans, who still remember his prowess. Happy birthday "Tomb the Bomb"! Our pride, which has forever changed the world of Italian and world skiing.
