Freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli hoping to follow Eileen Gu's footsteps at Milano Cortina 2026
After winning two golds at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, the Italian tells Olympics.com how she plans on making her Winter Olympic debut just as memorable.
Freestyle Skiing
If having the Olympic Games at home is something extraordinary, how special would it be to make your Olympic debut on home snow?
It's an experience that Flora Tabanelli dreams of having at Milano Cortina 2026 in ‘her’ Livigno, a place she calls ‘a second home’ because it is where the Italian freestyle skiing prodigy began to shine internationally.
There is a lot of hype surrounding the 17-year-old.
In her debut World Cup season she secured two podiums in big air, confirming herself not only as a rising star in the discipline but also as a potential medal hope at the Winter Olympics.
"I aim to do new tricks, new stunts, to always improve. And then, after that, the results might come," Tabanelli told Olympics.com.
"I think it will be a great experience for everyone: for the athletes, for those coming from outside, and for all the spectators."
Making history at Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games
Tabanelli was one of the stars of the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
After serving as Italy's flag-bearer at Opening Ceremony, she won the big air and slopestyle titles to become her nation's first YOG freestyle ski gold medallist and the only Italian woman to climb the top step twice at the event.
"I'm happy to have gone to Gangwon and to have the experience of an Olympics, even if as a junior," Tabanelli continued. "I'm glad I was able to give my best there, I felt good doing it. I was having fun."
That fun evidently flowed into the World Cup. After sealing two podiums in her debut year competing against the sport's major stars, the teenager from Emilia-Romagna finished second and third in the first two big air events of the new season, in Chur and Beijing respectively.
So far, she is following the trajectory of the great Eileen Gu, who also won two golds (and a silver) at the Lausanne 2020 Winter YOG before repeating that feat at Beijing 2022, becoming Olympic champion in big air and halfpipe.
"She would be a good example to follow, but for now I'll focus on the season. However, I am very excited about the next Olympics.
“In the past we had Silvia Bertagna, Elisa Nakab... there are not many of us, but I would like to be an inspiration for young girls and boys in Italy to start this fantastic sport. I can feel like a trailblazer for this generation."
Two Tabanelli siblings at Milano Cortina 2026?
In addition to being an Olympic experience at home, Milano Cortina 2026 could also feature two members of the Tabanelli family.
It was Flora's older brother Miro, after all, that paved the way for his sister to follow in the sport.
When the family moved from Emilia Romagna to Val di Fassa for Miro to attend ski college, Flora found her passion for freestyle skiing and never looked back.
“Three and a half years ago I followed my brother's footsteps, who had started freestyle first. I really liked watching that, so I jumped in and decided to start too," Flora continued.
Miro has also achieved a World Cup podium this year (second in the Beijing big air), meaning things are looking good for the Tabanellis.
"I always enjoy travelling with him. He is also gives me additional support, because when I need anything I ask him."
The Tabanellis, Miro and Flora, have taken part in other famous sporting events too.
Earlier this year, during the 15th stage of cycling's Giro d'Italia in Livigno, the siblings jumped over eventual winner Tadej Pogacar in an organised stunt.
"It was a different jump to our competitions but it was still beautiful to pass the road over the oncoming cyclists," Flora Tabanelli said.
Although she grew up playing several sports - including downhill skiing, figure skating, snowboarding and artistic gymnastics - she confessed to knowing very little about the two-wheel sport.
"I have to admit that I know little about other sports in general, but of course every experience makes me more and more passionate about them, so it was great to see all the cyclists.
"It was an unforgettable experience, for sure. I had a lot of fun."
Flora Tabanelli is hoping to make more Livigno sporting history in 2026 with an Olympic debut on the hills she grew up skiing.
Originally from Sestola, in the province of Modena, the Italian is now based in the Valtellina resort that will host the freestyle skiing competitions at Milano Cortina 2026.
And for those who also love the snow, her advice is clear: "Try the slopes, for sure, because all over the world there are good skiing areas, but here in Italy's Alps there are also the landscape and the mountains."
But the athlete is also quick to highlight that the local attractions are not just limited to freestyle skiing and the snow parks.
"Travelling around the world and talking to other people, Italy is liked by many. There is a nice community, it's famous for its food.
"Come and discover the beauty of all sports. It's going to be a great experience."