Two of Italy’s most decorated Olympic alpine skiing stars, Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, brought the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 to a climactic conclusion on Friday (February 6), igniting the cauldron in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
For the first time in Olympic history, the ceremony concluded with the lighting of two Olympic cauldrons: one in Milan and another in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Known affectionately during his prime as “Tomba La Bomba” because of his aggressive approach on the piste, the Italian legend won five Olympic medals between 1988 and 1998.
The 59-year-old Tomba made a stunning debut in Calgary 1988, winning both the giant slalom and the slalom gold medals. He then successfully defended his giant slalom crown, becoming the first Alpine skier to win gold in the same event.
Tomba broke new ground in Lillehammer 1994 as the first Alpine skier to win medals in three different Olympic Games with his silver in the giant slalom.
The three-time Olympic world champion and fellow Italian alpine skiing icon Compagnoni were raised towards the cauldron at Arco della Pace to light the flame. Compagnoni had an equally impressive pedigree, winning gold in Albertville 1992, Lillehammer and Nagano 1998 as well as silver in Nagano.