Flora Tabanelli experienced an Olympic fairytale. © APA/afp / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

The Tabanelli fairytale: From a torn cruciate ligament to bronze

Flora Tabanelli fulfilled a lifelong dream by winning the Olympic bronze medal in Livigno – and that in her only competition this season.

February 17, 2026

From: never

The 18-year-old freestyle skier couldn't find the right words to describe her Olympic fairytale. "I can't believe it," Flora Tabanelli was told by the Journal of Sport quoted. In the Big Air final, the top Italian talent once again competed on equal terms with the best in the world; behind Olympic champion Megan Oldham (180,75 points) and superstar Eileen Gu (179,00), Tabanelli finished in second place. for the bronze medal (178,25). “For me, a dream is coming true.”

A dream that no one really believed in just a few months ago. At the beginning of November, the Italian, who had won the Big Air discipline title the previous year, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. Surgery would have meant that Tabanelli would miss the Winter Games in her home country. She and her team decided against it.

With a titanium orthosis to a bronze medal

Despite foregoing surgery, Tabanelli's World Cup appearances were cancelled. This led to the very scenario in Livigno where she would compete in her only race of the season under the five rings. It doesn't get much more pressure than that. "In the final, I wore a titanium brace to help stabilize my knee, which is still injured. We had to avoid further injuries," she explained.

"On the last run, I attempted a jump that I had maybe only landed twice in total last year." Flora Tabanelli

The Italian skier never really got used to the brace, "because it protrudes into the ski boot and I don't feel completely comfortable with it." But that, like the injury, didn't stop her from exceeding all expectations in what was arguably the most important moment of her career. "On my last run, I attempted a jump – the 1620 – which I'd only landed maybe twice in total last year. I didn't feel entirely confident on that jump, but I wanted to risk everything. Because if you don't do it in an Olympic final, when do you?"

Eileen Gu, Megan Oldham and Flora Tabanelli. © ANSA / ALEX PLAVEVSKI

A risk that, as we know, should pay off. But what happens after the bronze medal fairytale? "That was my only competition in 2026. Before that, I was injured and didn't compete in any other events," said Tabanelli. "After these Games, I'll have surgery to come back stronger next season."