The talented young skating prodigy, Matilda Ferrari, grew up in Giustino, a small town in the Val Rendena region of Northern Italy. In this valley region, winter sports play a large role in daily life for the locals. Ferrari had her sights set on participating in the Winter Olympics and trained daily at the Pinzolo rink. Despite dealing with a recent knee injury, she had been progressing rapidly, even taking bronze at the Coppa Italia finals in August. However, all of those dreams came to an abrupt halt when Ferrari was involved in a fatal road accident in mid-September.
The Sudden and Tragic Passing of Matilda Ferrari
Matilda Farrari was walking toward her bus stop on Monday morning, the 15th of September, 2025. While crossing the road, she was fatally struck by a cement truck. Local ambulances and firefighters were quick to respond; however, her injuries were very severe, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. While local authorities are still investigating the sequence of events that led to the accident, early reports state that the truck was proceeding on a green light while Matilda was crossing the road. In response to the young skater’s death, Giustino’s mayor, Manuel Cosi, stated that it was “a terrible tragedy… You can’t go to school in the morning and die like this.”
Many people within the local and international skating community have released statements expressing their condolences and grief upon learning of her passing. For example, the International Skating Union (ISU) released a statement, which noted that, “Ferrari had shown great dedication and passion for figure skating, and dreamed of one day competing at the Olympic Winter Games. The ISU and global figure skating community extends its deepest condolences to Ferrari’s family and the Italian figure skating community as they grieve this heartbreaking loss.” Furthermore, Italy’s federation announced moments of silence before competitions the week following her passing.
While the national and global communities have all expressed their condolences, it is in Ferrari’s own community that her loss and subsequent celebration of her life have been the strongest. Giustino and its neighbouring towns in Val Rendena are a close-knit community. Soon after news of her passing spread across the community, her friends, classmates, coaches, and clubmates began sharing their special memories of the talented teenager’s passion and kind nature. Those who knew her talked about her determination and grit, even when faced with challenges such as her knee issues. Many are saddened by the fact that the talented teen seemed destined for glory and had her eyes firmly set on attending the Olympic Games one day.
The local media focused more on the actual location of the accident, noting that the busy state road and bus stop were used by many students every day. These reports also noted that investigators were examining whether there were any potential visibility or mechanical issues that could have caused the accident. Her passing has also reignited conversations around road safety and making sure young students are safe when commuting to school. Matilda’s community has offered their support to Matilda’s family, and her school has also arranged psychological support for her schoolmates.
The Second Such Incident
Matilda Ferrari was the second skater to lose her life in a road accident in the last month. As reported by The Sun Julia Marie Gaiser was struck by a lorry while cycling across a busy intersection in Austria earlier in September. Attempts were made to resuscitate the 23-year-old, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the police, the driver responsible for the accident tested negative for alcohol at the scene of the tragic accident.
In a tribute to the skater, Mayor Andreas Jungman stated, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Gaiser family. This is a great loss, especially for the world of sport.” Gaiser previously represented the Italian national figure skating team before deciding to switch over to Austria. While competing for the Eis team, Salzburg. Gaiser won state titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Her passing represents another talented young woman whose future was robbed from her too soon.
Matilda Ferrari’s passing has left a hole in her local community. The talented skater seemed destined to one day reach the Olympics, yet all of that came to a screeching halt in a second. Her community is still in shock and trying to put together the pieces to make sense of her death. Was it perhaps an issue with visibility, or maybe even a mechanical issue?
As investigators continue to find the answers to those questions, her local community continues to show its support for her family and share stories from her short but inspiring life. She will be remembered for her unwavering determination and warm spirit that lit up the entire valley.
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