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After three years competing, Giacomo Bertagnolli made a name for himself on the alpine skiing international scene after an outstanding performance at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
The Italian took double gold in the men´s slalom and giant slalom vision impaired alongside guide Fabrizio Casal. He added silver in the super-G and bronze in the downhill to his haul.
But Bertagnolli had really come of age in the 2016-17 season.
Back then, the youngster won his first world title on home snow in Tarvisio, Italy, alongside two other podium finishes.
He also followed on from his overall World Cup win in 2015-16 with top three finishes in the super-G, super-combined and slalom. He finished second overall in the men's vision impaired behind Slovakia's Miroslav Haraus.
Bertagnolli and Casal enjoy a close friendship that has enabled them to enjoy success throughout the years. Having been to school with each other, the pair decided to transfer their relationship to competition.
Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
B3
Guide
Andrea Ravelli
Further personal information
Residence
Cavalese, ITA
Occupation
Armed Forces Athlete
Languages
English, German, Italian
Higher education
Human Movement Studies - University of Verona: Italy
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began skiing at age two in Cavalese, Italy. He took up the sport competitively in 2012.
Why this sport?
"I live in the mountains and have slopes all around me. It was the first sport I ever tried. I like speed, jumps, adrenaline, and snow, so skiing is perfect."
Club / Team
GS Fiamme Gialle: Italy
Name of coach
Davide Gros [national], ITA
International debut
Year
2014
Competing for
Italy
Tournament
World Cup
Location
St. Moritz, SUI
General interest
Nicknames
Jack, Jack Berta (IPC, 10 Feb 2018; ildolomiti.it, 02 Feb 2017)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in downhill at the 2019 World Championships in Slovenia and Italy. (paralympic.org, 31 Jan 2019)
Hero / Idol
US alpine skier Ted Ligety, Italian Moto GP rider Valentino Rossi. (IPC, 10 Feb 2018)
Injuries
A COVID-19 infection meant he was unable to compete in the speed events at the 2021 World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway. He recovered in time to participate in giant slalom. (sciaremag.it, 19 Jan 2022; paralympic.org, 17 Jan 2022)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs
He listens to music before competing. (ildolomiti.it, 02 Feb 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"I'm a positive, crazy, determined, guy. I love travelling and meeting new people. I always want to try new sports, the crazier they are, the better it is. I'm not afraid." (IPC, 10 Feb 2018)
Awards and honours
He was flag bearer for Italy at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (IPC Entries, 04 Mar 2022; ladige.it, 30 Oct 2021)
In 2020 he received the 'Fiocco d'Argento' [Silver Snowflake] Award from the Italian Winter Sports Federation and the sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. (vocidicortina.it, 03 Aug 2020)
He was presented with the 'Collare d'oro' [Golden Necklace], the highest honour given by the Italian National Olympic Committee [CONI], in 2017, 2018, and 2019. (coni.it, 01 Jan 2020; IPC, 10 Feb 2018)
In 2019 he and guide Fabrizio Casal were presented with the Best Debut Award at the International Paralympic Committee Awards Gala. (paralympic.org, 25 Oct 2019)
In 2020 he received the 'Fiocco d'Argento' [Silver Snowflake] Award from the Italian Winter Sports Federation and the sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. (vocidicortina.it, 03 Aug 2020)
He was presented with the 'Collare d'oro' [Golden Necklace], the highest honour given by the Italian National Olympic Committee [CONI], in 2017, 2018, and 2019. (coni.it, 01 Jan 2020; IPC, 10 Feb 2018)
In 2019 he and guide Fabrizio Casal were presented with the Best Debut Award at the International Paralympic Committee Awards Gala. (paralympic.org, 25 Oct 2019)
Ambitions
To compete at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2022 and 2026. (dnbm.univr.it, 01 Jan 2020)
Impairment
He was born with atrophy of the optic nerve [OPA1]. (IPC, 10 Feb 2018)
Other information
GUIDE
In 2019 he parted ways with his long-time guide and school friend, Fabrizio Casal, and began competing alongside Andrea Ravelli. "Andrea is a natural coach. He's older than me [by seven years] and he skied alongside those we see at the World Cup until he got injured. I made the decision once Fabrizio got busier at university. He's doing plenty of things while I had to train on a daily basis because the level in Para alpine skiing is increasing. We won so much together but I needed a change and I'm happy to have done it after all the medals we won." (sciaremag.it, 15 Jun 2020; incodaalgruppo.gazzetta.it, 15 Jan 2020)
In 2019 he parted ways with his long-time guide and school friend, Fabrizio Casal, and began competing alongside Andrea Ravelli. "Andrea is a natural coach. He's older than me [by seven years] and he skied alongside those we see at the World Cup until he got injured. I made the decision once Fabrizio got busier at university. He's doing plenty of things while I had to train on a daily basis because the level in Para alpine skiing is increasing. We won so much together but I needed a change and I'm happy to have done it after all the medals we won." (sciaremag.it, 15 Jun 2020; incodaalgruppo.gazzetta.it, 15 Jan 2020)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Giant Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-08 | 10 | |
| Men's Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-10 | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Downhill VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-25 | 5 | |
| Men's Super-G VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-26 | 3 | |
| Men's Super-Combined VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-28 | 1 | |
| Men's Giant Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-30 | 2 | |
| Men's Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-31 | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Downhill Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-10 | 3 | |
| Men's Super-G Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-11 | 2 | |
| Men's Super Combined Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-13 | 9999 | |
| Men's Giant Slalom Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-14 | 1 | |
| Men's Slalom Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-17 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Giant Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2019-01-21 | 2 | |
| Men's Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2019-01-23 | 1 | |
| Men's Downhill VI | Race 1 | 2019-01-30 | 1 | |
| Men's Super-G VI | Race 1 (from SC) | 2019-01-31 | 1 | |
| Men's Super-Combined VI | Race 1 | 2019-01-31 | 1 |
