From Matilde to Margot, lives broken in skiing

Grilli

Another tragedy on the slopes, another young life cut short, and with it all the dreams of a promising skier. Margot Simond, an 18-year-old French girl, died from the consequences of a fall during training in Val d'Isere. And our thoughts immediately turn to that cursed Monday at the end of October last year, when Matilde Lorenzi, a young Italian starlet not yet twenty years old, left us after that accident that was never fully clarified on the Val Senales glacier. As did Marco Degli Uomini, an 18-year-old trailblazer who suffered a fatal slip on the Zoncolan last month. An investigation will try to shed light on the latest tragedy, ascertaining any responsibilities. However, we will limit ourselves to noting that in high-level skiing, today more than ever, tragedy seems to be just around the corner. Just think of the serious injuries suffered this season by Sarrazin, Brignone, Shiffrin and Ortlieb. A question of speed: even in the 'technical' tests, thanks to the constantly evolving materials, very high speeds are reached. Snow is also involved: global warming forces us to compete and train at higher altitudes, with unstable weather conditions. Risk will always be part of this wonderful sport. However, every innovation related to safety - the current obligation to have airbags in fast disciplines is sacrosanct - is welcome. And if life is at stake, even thinking of reducing speed with slower tracks must never be seen as heresy.