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Flora Tabanelli Takes Olympic Big Air Bronze While Skiing on Torn ACL

She prioritized competing on home snow by delaying surgery, with an operation set for after the Games.

Overview

  • The 18-year-old Italian secured third in Livigno with 178.25 points behind Canada’s Megan Oldham and China’s Eileen Gu.
  • She tore a cruciate ligament in a November training fall on Austria’s Stubai Glacier, putting Olympic participation in jeopardy.
  • The Italian federation pursued conservative management to keep her on the start list, with rehabilitation at Turin’s JMedical clinic.
  • Tabanelli competed in a titanium knee brace that stabilized the joint but reduced comfort and freedom of movement.
  • She says she will undergo ligament surgery after the Olympics, while outlets differ on whether the injury was to her left or right knee.