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Elena Fanchini is going through a difficult time.
Last Friday Sofia Goggia (30) won the downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo (It). It is the fourth win of the season for the Italian. Despite all the joy, she also thinks of those who are not doing so well.
“This is for you, Elly,” Goggia dedicates the triumph to a former teammate with whom she is good friends. This refers to Elena Fanchini (37), who is very happy about it and at the same time causes a shock in the Italian ski team.
diagnosis in August
Because, as will become known during the race in Cortina, the former speed specialist has fallen ill with cancer again. “In August I found out that the tumor was back and I started treatment that same month,” Fanchini told Corriere della Sera.
The downhill vice world champion from 2005 received this shock diagnosis for the first time shortly before the 2018 Olympic Games. The dream of the fourth Olympic participation burst abruptly, instead she had to undergo an operation and fight against the insidious disease. Fanchini prevailed, was considered cured and wanted to return to the ski circus.
But fate had other plans. She fell in training, broke her fibula – one of many injuries during her career – and announced her retirement in April 2020.
“I will fight”
“There are things that you cannot influence, I learned that from this illness, but also from skiing,” says Fanchini. She simply describes her renewed illness as bad luck. The two-time World Cup winner (2005 downhill in Lake Louise and 2015 downhill in Cortina) doesn’t think about giving up. “I will fight,” she says.
Skiing also helps her. As Fanchini reveals, she follows the races during this difficult time for her. “It’s like medicine for me,” she explains. Her family is just as important. With her sisters Nadia (36) and Sabrina (34), both also former skiers, she has already overcome many setbacks. One wishes that she succeeds this time too. (bir)
Attention ski fans! Now quiz and type races
The 2022/2023 ski season is in full swing and so is the “Blick Ski Trophy”: Answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2022/2023 ski season is in full swing and so is the “Blick Ski Trophy”: Answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!