«Sofia gave me back my smile»- Corriere.it

«Sofia has already said everything, there’s no need to add anything else: I’m here to fight. But that red bib made me smile». Elena Fanchini, former national team downhill skier, like her sister Nadia: she won a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships and two races in the World Cup. Sofia Goggia dedicated Saturday’s victory in Cortina to her. At 37, Elena shows an extraordinary fortitude, the same as always. When the tumor struck her in 2017 while she was preparing for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, she was operated on, she recovered, and she was back on the slopes. Unfortunately evil is back, this summer.

She had asked Sofia to bring her a red, “winning” bib. She tells us …

«It was born as a game, I heard it a few nights ago, after seeing Dorothea Wierer win a biathlon competition. So I said, now it’s Sofia’s turn. We often hear the two of us ».

How did you become friends?

«We in the family were all skiers. There was a group of girls, including my sister Sabrina, who often trained together. We met here in our area (Montecampione ed), Sofia frequented our house».

Have you always been very close?

“Yes, in his early years of his career we were also team mates.”

What effect did the words have on you after the victory in Cortina?

“Sofia was very sweet, and very delicate. This is why I say that I don’t have much to add: I’m fighting».

How do you deal with this second “battle”?

“It’s a pity it happened again, but I can’t give up.”

When did you find out?

«In August, at the end of the month, I started the first treatments. A repeat offender. The first time I was completely healed. But unfortunately, and I’m realizing it these days in the hospital, many recurrences happen. There are things you can’t command, I learned that from my illness and also from skiing».

Yours has always been a very large and united family, how do they help you?

“My sisters are always close to me, everyone is close to me. I have a great family, I’m lucky. When I skied I always thanked her, now I thank her even more».

Do you follow the ski races on TV?

“Absolutely yes! It’s also kind of my medicine. In addition to having four wonderful grandchildren, they are Nadia and Sabrina’s children, they give me enormous joy. At home we face this period all together, with great strength ».

She has always demonstrated incredible strength even as an athlete. Many injuries but she has always returned to the starting gate. Question of character?

“Both my sisters and I have lost continuity due to injuries. It’s the only complaint: There’s never been a smooth, crash-free year. But we have had great satisfactions, no one will take away the victories from us ».

The blue ski is in the hands of the girls who win as much as Sofia, as Brignone and Bassino. What do you think?

«Sofia has been dominating the downhill for years now. Perhaps compared to my times, however, skiing has changed».

Do you see Sofia often?

“The last time before Christmas, but we talk a lot on the phone.”

When you saw that red bib how did you react?

“With a smile. I asked him: Sofia give me a winning bib».