The former Italian champion talks about himself in an interview with Corriere della Sera: his victories, his meeting with Enzo Ferrari, the Olympics, today’s Italian team.
Another world. Skiing, fans, the invitation to Maranello to meet Enzo Ferrari. And then Alberto Tomba, the Olympics, and life as a grandfather. Gustav Thoeni talks about a little bit of everything in his interview with Corriere della Sera. The Italian skiing legend from Trafoi, at the foot of the Stelvio Pass where he runs his hotel, recounts his life, starting with the village he has never left: “I never thought of living anywhere else. After my first victories abroad, there was always a queue. The journalists gave me no respite. But I have fond memories. Once, Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy came after the giant slalom in St. Moritz.”
Three daughters, twelve grandchildren, and a world that is light years away from now: “I got married at 24 and retired at 29. When my three daughters were born, I was never at home. My wife Ingrid was wonderful. I am a full-time grandfather and I am moved by my grandchildren.” In terms of earnings, it was also a different world: “We took the cup and that was it. Once they gave me two televisions, but there was no repeater here, so they didn’t work. After the parallel, a Lancia arrived. Enzo Ferrari welcomed me into a huge studio with an enormous desk. He was very kind, but I was overwhelmed by his personality.”
tomba— On his relationship with Tomba: “Last year, for the 50th anniversary of the Valanga Azzurra, Alberto Tomba surprised me. He had registered under a false name: Rossi. We are very good friends. In the years when I was his coach, many evenings we would stay alone, just the two of us, in the room. We would cook spaghetti. On my birthday, he always calls me at midnight: he wants to be the first to wish me a happy birthday. Today, I think he misses having a family. I’m sorry about that. I used to say to him every now and then, ‘You have to settle down!’. But it never worked.“
sinner— A man of the mountains like Jannik Sinner: ”He lives in another world. We met only once, last year at the Sports Ball. I approached him, he was so besieged. It was only a moment.“ The Olympics are starting, and of course Thoeni will be there too: ”I’m going to Cortina to present my autobiography (Una scia nel bianco, Rizzoli) and, above all, to carry the torch. They told me I’ll be one of the last torchbearers. Then I’ll watch the Games from home. I’m already in bed by ten o’clock. A little sport on TV: skiing, soccer, tennis.“ And on the great Italian skiers: ”Alberto. La Compagnoni. Then today Brignone, Goggia. Tough.“ Franzoni? ”Very good.”
