Alberto Tomba turning 60 almost feels impossible. The Italian skiing icon remains frozen in the public imagination as the powerhouse athlete who attacked the slopes with relentless force and charisma. Yet while time moves on, some things remain unchanged.
Speaking at an event for Caffè Borbone, where he serves as a brand ambassador, Tomba reflected on life, Italian sporting talent, his admiration for Kimi Antonelli, and emotional memories of his late friend Alex Zanardi.
Alberto Tomba on turning 60 and life after sport
Sixty in December — what does that feel like?
“Well… they say I don’t look it.”
No argument there. Does it ever make you feel nostalgic?
“Sometimes I talk about it with my mother at lunch in the kitchen, and we count the years going by. At times you live through memories and the past, but eventually you have to accept it: life is short.”
What still matters in a short life like that?
“I’ve lived in the countryside since I was a child, I love animals, and I want to spend these years that way. I bought a farmhouse in the hills, I manage the property, then I walk eight kilometres back home. I have to stay fit.”
Tomba on Jannik Sinner and Kimi Antonelli
Jannik Sinner, Kimi Antonelli, Franzoni — what is it like watching today’s young stars?
“They excite me a lot. Jannik has been a winner for years now. He tried skiing before choosing tennis, so it’s almost like he’s lived my life in reverse. Jannik is a mountain tennis player, I was a city skier.”
Who would win a ski race between you and Jannik Sinner?
“Come on, let’s be serious. To make it fair, I’d have to give him a head start… and he’d have to do the same for me in tennis.”
And Kimi Antonelli?
“He’s one of my own — a boy from Bologna. I like him a lot, we stay in touch, and not long ago we met for lunch on the Riviera. With a first name like Kimi, he was destined to become a champion. He’s at Mercedes now, but I’m sure one day he’ll end up at Ferrari.”
Why Alberto Tomba rejects social media
Does it make sense to say Valentino Rossi is the sporting figure most similar to Alberto Tomba among Italy’s modern champions?
“In terms of originality and personality, yes. He also had a fun fan club. But it’s difficult for me to talk about myself — only people who really know me understand what I’m like.”
Interesting coming from an athlete who doesn’t use social media…
“Zero. I can’t stand it. Social media ruins everything.”
Some recent interviews have described you as shy. Really?
“At 18, yes. We skiers are mountain people — introverted, used to the cold, ready to adapt to any situation. Then at 21, you win the Olympics and suddenly become a public figure exposed to criticism, attacks and media pressure. That’s the other side of success.”
Remembering Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi, on the other hand, was anything but shy.
“I went to visit him before his 2001 accident and we became close. He came to some of my races, and being both from Bologna, we stayed in touch. What he showed the world was unique — strength, passion, determination. After the accident, he basically said, ‘Wait, I want to try something else,’ and then won four gold medals across two Paralympic Games. I got emotional at his funeral.”
At what moment?
“When Don Marco Pozza, during the homily, told the story of Alex meeting two young men from prison at a motorway service station. Alex listened to them, asked questions, and explained his theory of five seconds. He said that in life, you can always hold on for five more seconds, just to see if you can do something more. Those two young men went home with a completely different perspective.”
Olympic memories and the future of Italian skiing
Looking back at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, what stands out?
“The moment Deborah Compagnoni and I lit the cauldron, with that music playing. Music is everything when it moves you emotionally. I let her do more of the talking because I was overwhelmed.”
The beginning of two special weeks.
“It was a fantastic Olympics, just like the Paralympics. Deborah and I were there to support those athletes, and we still follow them. They also set a medal record.”
Is there a slalom or giant slalom skier who could return Italy to the world’s top five?
“I don’t see anyone right now, but I hope we find someone soon. The women have Anna Trocker and Giada D’Antonio. Among the men, I like Saccardi because he’s from Emilia, but the competition is tough.”
2026 also marks 30 years since your Sierra Nevada World Championships double gold in giant slalom and slalom.
“Perfect World Championships — probably the most precise in history. Incredible, especially being in Spain rather than the Alps. In giant slalom I had bib number one, so I couldn’t disappoint expectations. That victory gave me momentum for the slalom. My two races were on the final weekend, and compared to earlier events, the weather had changed because Sierra Nevada is close to Morocco.”
What would Alberto Tomba do today?
If you were starting over now and couldn’t become a skier, what would you be?
“A tennis player! Joking aside, maybe a real estate entrepreneur, which is already what I do on a small scale. Travelling the world made me realise I have a taste for architecture, design and interiors. I’d still want to stay close to nature. My father moved the family out of the city when I was 10, and living that way gave me an extra edge.”
One final curiosity. You once said not getting married ‘wasn’t a choice.’ Does that mean there’s still a chance?
“I’d say yes. Never say never. You just have to think carefully… People say marriage means ‘settling down,’ but 90% of couples end up separating…”
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