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The death of Valerio Ghirardi has left a void in all the blue who have had him at the helm of the national team. La Gardena: "For me like a second father". The thought also of Giorgio D''Urbano.
Thursday 26 November 2020 4 minutes reading time
Forever in the hearts of all those who worked with him, from Tina Maze to the Spaniards Carolina Ruiz Castillo and Maria Rienda Contreras, as well as the athletes of the Italian Paralympic national team.
Valerio Ghirardi, who died today at only 58 years after having fought for a long time with the disease, was however above all the technician who wrote some of the most beautiful pages of blue skiing, between the 90s and 2000s with the national speed team and, in particular, as mentor and beacon of Isolde Kostner, who personally followed towards the greatest triumphs.
The Gardena champion arrived in the national team at the age of 16 and immediately under the protective wing of the “Dormouse”, just over 18 she already won a double Olympic bronze at the Lillehammer Games. And then off with the double gold at the World Championships in Sierra Nevada ''96 and Sestriere' '97, 15 victories and 51 podiums in the World Cup, with two crystal balls in descent (2001 and 2002) and only the missed Olympic gold and caressed in that race in Salt Lake City 2002. Then the goodbye to the Turin Games, after announcing the farewell to skiing the month before for maternity. “Valerio not only led me to successes in 16 years as a national team - Isolde's message on this sad day - but above all he was like a second father for me, a man with heart and great sensitivity.
The respect towards all his athletes and his collaborators made him an unforgettable man. Dear Valerio, you will always remain in my heart and my gratitude towards you is infinite ”.
And there have been many messages of condolence in these first hours after the news of the disappearance of the Piedmontese technician. Like that of Barbara Merlin, another athlete of his who, together with his sister Alessandra, lived fantastic years in the white circus with Ghirardi. “We grew up with you and with you we made our dream come true”. And then Bibiana Perez and Daniela Ceccarelli herself who, live on Rai, said she was "shocked by the news, but it remains a very strong memory because I did my entire career flanked by Valerio, first as a coach of Isi and then up to the Games of Turin. A friend and a very good coach who left a mark ”.
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