SKIERS from Italy

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Italian Skiers of all time. This list of famous Italian Skiers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Italian Skiers.

1. Alberto Tomba (b. 1966)

With an HPI of 55.78, Alberto Tomba is the most famous Italian Skier.  His biography has been translated into 37 different languages on wikipedia.

Alberto Tomba (born 19 December 1966) is a former World Cup alpine ski racer from Italy. He was the dominant technical skier (slalom and giant slalom) in the late 1980s and 1990s. At 182 cm and 90 kg, his powerful build was a contrast to the lighter, more traditional technical skiers who prioritised agility over muscle. Tomba was able to take advantage of the introduction of spring-loaded ski gates which replaced the older, solid gates in the early 1980s by using his power to maintain a faster, more direct line through courses. Tomba won three Olympic gold medals, two World Championships, and nine World Cup season titles: four in slalom, four in giant slalom, and one overall title. He was popularly called Tomba la Bomba ("Tomba the Bomb").

2. Gustav Thöni (b. 1951)

With an HPI of 52.07, Gustav Thöni is the 2nd most famous Italian Skier.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Gustav Thöni (Italian pronunciation: [ˈɡustav ˈtøːni; ˈteːni]; sometimes listed as Gustavo Thoeni; born 28 February 1951) is an Italian retired alpine ski racer.

3. Franco Nones (b. 1941)

With an HPI of 46.71, Franco Nones is the 3rd most famous Italian Skier.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Francesco "Franco" Nones (born 1 February 1941) is an Italian former cross-country skier who competed during the 1960s.

4. Stefania Belmondo (b. 1969)

With an HPI of 45.69, Stefania Belmondo is the 4th most famous Italian Skier.  Her biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Stefania Belmondo (affectionately known as the Tiny Tornado, born 13 January 1969) is an Italian former cross-country skier, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion.

5. Giuliana Minuzzo (1931 - 2020)

With an HPI of 45.45, Giuliana Minuzzo is the 5th most famous Italian Skier.  Her biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Giuliana Chenal-Minuzzo (née Minuzzo, 26 November 1931 – 11 November 2020) was an Italian alpine skier.

6. Deborah Compagnoni (b. 1970)

With an HPI of 41.29, Deborah Compagnoni is the 6th most famous Italian Skier.  Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Deborah Compagnoni (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdɛːbora kompaɲˈɲoːni]; born 4 June 1970) is an Italian former Alpine skier who won three gold medals at the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics.

7. Giorgio Di Centa (b. 1972)

With an HPI of 40.37, Giorgio Di Centa is the 7th most famous Italian Skier.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Giorgio Di Centa (born 7 October 1972 in Tolmezzo, Province of Udine) is an Italian former cross-country skier who won two gold medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, including the individual 50 km freestyle race. He is the younger brother of Olympic gold medalist, cross-country skier Manuela Di Centa.

8. Marco Albarello (b. 1960)

With an HPI of 40.00, Marco Albarello is the 8th most famous Italian Skier.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Marco Albarello (born 31 May 1960) is an Italian cross-country skier who competed from 1982 to 2002. He was born in Aosta. His best known victory was part of the 4 × 10 km relay team that upset Norway at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. He also won four other medals at the Winter Olympics with three silvers (10 km: 1992; 4 × 10 km relay: 1992, 1998) and one bronze (10 km: 1994).

9. Giorgio Vanzetta (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 39.26, Giorgio Vanzetta is the 9th most famous Italian Skier.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Giorgio Vanzetta (born 9 October 1959 in Cavalese) is an Italian former cross-country skier who competed from 1980 to 2002. His best known victory was part of the 4 × 10 km relay team that upset Norway at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. He also won three medals at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville with a silver in the 4 × 10 km relay and bronzes in the 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit and 50 km. Vanzetta also won two silver medals in the 4 × 10 km relay (1985, 1993) at the Nordic skiing World Championships. His sister, Bice, also competed in cross-country skiing from 1986 to 1994. At the Opening Ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin on 10 February, he and his 4 × 10 km relay teammates (Maurilio De Zolt, Marco Albarello, and Silvio Fauner) who won the gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, were among the last carriers of the Olympic torch before it was lit by fellow Italian cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo.

10. Gabriella Paruzzi (b. 1969)

With an HPI of 38.73, Gabriella Paruzzi is the 10th most famous Italian Skier.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Gabriella Paruzzi (born 21 June 1969) is a retired Italian cross-country skier who competed from 1991 to 2006 and formerly skied with the G.S. Forestale. She skied in World Cup events, and won the Women's Overall World Cup in 2004.