An Italian skier has ended her career. © Instagram

With a heavy heart: Another ski retirement in Italy

Italy's ski scene has seen a number of departures this summer. Now, a once great hope from Trentino has left – after an eventful time.

June 15, 2026

From: det

Although winter ended several weeks, even months ago, the Italian ski scene has seen one retirement after another in the last few hours. The two speed specialists... Carlotta De Leonardis and Giulia Albano Several downhill skiers have retired, and now another one is joining them. Monica Zanoner from Trentino will not continue her career and will retire from the sport at the age of 27.

It's a farewell made with a heavy heart. Because the Fassan native's career was destined for more than "just" seven World Cup races and 59 European Cup appearances (including one podium finish). Especially since Zanoner won the bronze medal in downhill at the 2020 Junior World Championships. But in the end, the Italian was repeatedly thwarted by injuries.

Monica Zanoner competed in seven World Cup races. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

And so, in January 2024, the tragedy unfolded that dealt a devastating blow to the promising young ski career. During the European Cup race in Orcieres, France, Zanoner suffered a serious fall and broke her femur. A horrific injury that kept Zanoner off the slopes for almost two years. After four operations, the Trentino native finally returned last season on her own initiative (she was no longer part of the national team) and achieved some promising results in the European Cup. But that's as far as she'll go.

Check out this post on Instagram

A post shared by Monica Zanoner (@monicazanoner)

On Monday, Zanoner announced the end of her career. "It's not the destination that gives meaning to our steps. Because every goal, once we reach it, ceases to be a dream and becomes merely a point in time. What truly matters is the journey: the wrong paths that teach us something, the times of waiting that test us, and the unexpected landscapes that surprise us when we think we've lost our way," Zanoner wrote in farewell on Instagram, adding: "I gave it one last try." With a heavy heart, she then made the decision: That was it for her skiing career.