Daniela CECCARELLI

Daniela Ceccarelli was an Italian alpine skier. A specialist in the speed disciplines, she débuted at the 1996 World Cup in the Super G at Kvitfjell (Norway), finishing 21st overall and not scoring points. She was on the podium for the first time in 2001 with a second-place finish in the Super G at St. Moritz and third in the Cortina downhill. Her only other podium finish at the World Cup was second place in the downhill at Val d’Isère in December 2002.

The climax of Ceccarelli’s career came when she won the 2002 Olympic title in the Super G ahead of the favourite Janica Kostelić, by only 0.05 seconds, as well as another Italian Karen Putzer. Ceccarelli competed at four World Championships (1999-2005) and, at the 2006 Torino Olympics, disappointed by finishing 31st in her favorite discipline.

Nationally, Ceccarelli won two titles (the 2002 Super G and the 2003 downhill), three second places (the 1998 Super G and the 1999 and 2001 downhill) and six third places (the 1998 Super G; the 2000 Super G and giant slalom; the 2001 Super G; and the 2008 and 2009 downhill). After her Olympic gold, she was a recipient of the title of Knight of the Italy’s Republic and the Collare d’Oro for sporting merits. Since the 2010s she has been a sports commentator with RAI, Italian public television.