After death: Innerhofer flies home – and the others?

Italian skiing is still reeling from Matteo Franzoso's fatal accident. His training colleagues at the scene of the accident in Chile are particularly hard hit. The question for them now is: What's next?

September 18, 2025

From: fop

Last Saturday, Matteo Franzoso suffered such a severe fall during training at La Parva that he succumbed to his injuries two days later while in an induced coma. The Italian downhill skier was only 25 years old. News of the accident caused shock and horror in winter sports worldwide.

Franzoso's family, who immediately traveled to South America, and his national teammates in La Parva were particularly affected by the accident. They spent the past few days together in the Chilean ski resort, saying goodbye to the young downhill skier. His body will now be returned to Italy, where he will be buried next week in Sestriere.

Matteo Franzoso (†)

A handful of teammates are staying behind in Chile for the time being, trying to cope with the pain in some way during these difficult times. Among them are Florian Schieder from Castelrotto, Mattia Casse, Guglielmo Bosca, and Giovanni Franzoni, who had temporarily suspended training but are now back on skis. Dominik Paris, who is currently preparing separately from the other downhill skiers, will also remain in South America. He still has a training camp scheduled in Ushuaia, Argentina.

“I don’t have the strength to ski right now” Christoph Innerhofer

However, several Azzurri have also returned home, including Christof Innerhofer. He returned to South Tyrol early. "I don't have the strength to ski right now," Innerhofer told the daily newspaper La Repubblica"I'm devastated. I was lying there wide awake in bed. The first night after the accident, I went for a walk until 4 a.m., and the second night, I worked out in the gym."

Terrible images in my head

Innerhofer was one of the athletes who experienced the accident firsthand. He had raced down the training slope directly ahead of Franzoso. At the finish, he finally learned of the fall, but without knowing the consequences. As the 40-year-old veteran from Gais passed the slope on the chairlift, he saw the injured Franzoso and the paramedics rushing to the scene.

In addition to Innerhofer, Franzoso's roommate Benjamin Alliod and other downhill skiers from his training group have also packed their bags, including Max Perathoner from Val Gardena. For them, the time to reconsider has now begun. Whether in Chile or at home, no one on the Azzurri team is really thinking about the upcoming Olympic season right now.