Special honor for Italy's new ski hero

Giovanni Franzoni was the big breakout star of last ski season. The Italian won the downhill in Kitzbühel and took silver at the Bormio Olympics, among other achievements. Now Franzoni has joined an elite circle.

02 October 2026

From: dl

Franzoni returned home a few days ago after completing a long training camp in South America. There, he was in for a pleasant surprise. The rising star has become part of the Red Bull family – a prestigious accolade in the sport. He recently received his new helmet for the upcoming racing season. In a video posted on social media, the 25-year-old from Manerba on Lake Garda expressed his delight.

Franzoni was as happy as a little boy at Christmas when he unpacked the equipment he'll soon be wearing in races – for the first time in the giant slalom in Sölden on October 25th. "I've been waiting for this moment for quite some time. I've always dreamed of it," said Franzoni. From a financial perspective, and also in terms of prestige, a deal with Red Bull is considered lucrative for a winter sports athlete.

Check out this post on Instagram
A post shared by Giovanni Franzoni (@giofranzi)

Numerous Red Bull athletes, including Dominik Paris, Franjo von Allmen, and Lucas Braathen, commented on his Instagram post. "Welcome to the family," Paris wrote, for example. We'll see if the Austrian energy drink brand will now also give Franzoni wings – just like their famous slogan says. Incidentally, the best skier of recent years, Marco Odermatt, also wears Red Bull as his helmet sponsor.

Keywords Alpine skiing John Franzoni Red Bull