Bardonecchia came alive on Saturday, 18 January as it hosted one of the most highly-anticipated alpine skiing events of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games, the women’s giant slalom.
The atmosphere was fired up, with the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers and the constant ringing of Swiss cowbells filling the air. It was undoubtedly Switzerland’s day to shine, as teammates Sue Piller (2:06.58) and Delphine Darbellay (2:07.18) secured the gold and silver medals.
Bronze went to the host nation’s Margherita Cecere (2:07.61), who lives in Bardonecchia, bringing pride and joy to the numerous Italian fans gathered at the Alpine resort.

“So great!”
Asked how it felt to see her country secure both gold and silver in the same event, the 19-year-old champion from the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport beamed with pride. “That’s so great! It’s so amazing to share the victory with the whole team.”
The weather at the venue was unpredictable, with gusts of wind strong enough to blow away the media mixed zone tent. In alpine skiing, mountain winds can pose significant challenges, impacting turns and speed adjustments. Yet, for the gold medallist, the conditions were just another part of the race.

“I didn’t notice the wind when I skied,” said Sue Piller. “I tried to make myself as small as possible. Yeah, that’s it.” Remember to keep your body streamlined: a simple and effective strategy offered by the champion herself.
After the medal ceremony, Piller and Darbellay were lifted high into the air by their jubilant teammates. The team celebrated in front of the FISU Games backdrop, making it a truly memorable moment for Swiss alpine skiing.

Piller couldn’t contain her excitement as she shared final thoughts. “I love to ski here. The atmosphere is amazing, and yeah, it was just so fun to ski. It was amazing!”
Alpine stories from around the world
While the day belonged to the Swiss athletes, competitors from other nations also enjoyed their time on the slopes and shared their unique stories.

American Emma Quang Lenoel, an 18-year-old from world-renowned Harvard University, reflected on how she balances life as a student at an Ivy League institution and as a high-performance athlete. “We have a pretty good support system at school. It’s my first year there, so I’m still figuring things out, but my team has been great. At least they’re very supportive.”
Speaking about team spirit Brazil’s AIsabella Springer also shared a story… about her dad. “I started skiing with my father! I started very young. I’ve been skiing since forever.” Born to a German father and a Brazilian mother, Isabella, who studies at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, grew up skiing in Germany’s Bavaria region and now competes internationally for Brazil.


For athletes hailing from tropical locations, their skiing journey can be even more unique. Beijing 2022 Olympian Lee Wen-Yi from Chinese Taipei shared her own experience of taking up alpine skiing despite growing up in a warm region. “My parents worked in related industries, so I started skiing when I was little. Later, I decided to become a professional skier.”
Thanks to her family’s support, Wen-Yi has previously represented Chinese Taipei not only at the Olympics but also at the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland. However, being the sole competitor from her island in her event can feel lonely, she said. “It would be nice to have some teammates,” she finished with a laugh.
The alpine skiing program at Torino 2025 continues on Sunday, 19 January with the men’s giant slalom.
Written by Boyi Yang, FISU Young Reporter, China
The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports
competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports
journalists are chosen to cover the competition.

We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.