Overview
- Franzoni finished third in the Val Gardena/Gröden Super-G for his first World Cup podium, behind winner Jan Zabystran and runner-up Marco Odermatt.
- Fighting tears on Eurosport, he said “This is for him,” describing the late Matteo Franzoso as “like my older brother” and recalling years as season roommates.
- He later posted an Instagram video set to Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful,” framing the day as the fulfillment of a promise to share his first podium with Franzoso.
- Franzoso died in September after misjudging a jump during training at La Parva in Chile, breaking through two safety nets and striking a wooden fence; he suffered a traumatic brain injury and did not recover.
- Italy’s team has mourned two deaths in a year, including Matilde Lorenzi in 2024, and FISI president Roda has urged measures to prevent further fatalities as the speed squad continues to post strong results.