OLYMPICS: Italy's Tabanelli siblings set sights on freestyle glory at Winter Games

ROME – Siblings Miro and Flora Tabanelli were practically born for winter sports. Raised by parents who ran a mountain refuge in the Italian Apennines, the two were on skis by the age of two.

After breakthrough victories in the World Cup and X Games last year, the Tabanellis have become Italy’s best hope of challenging U.S. dominance in freestyle skiing at their home venue during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics this February.

The town of Livigno, which is hosting the Games’ freestyle events and is one of their sponsors, has hailed them as “the most promising freeskiing pair in the world, Italian and siblings to boot.”

Miro and Flora grew up in the Duca degli Abruzzi-Lake Scaffaiolo refuge, north-west of Florence, with no TV, mobile phones, or social media. Instead, they spent their days exploring nature and practicing sports with their parents, Antonio and Lucia, and older sister Irene.

“I don’t regret it even for a moment,” 21-year-old Miro told the Casa Max podcast about his non-digital childhood. “We always had better things to do, that is, being outdoors, super free.”

Before focusing on freestyle skiing, the siblings tried downhill skiing, mountain biking, snowboarding, figure skating, and artistic gymnastics—and excelled in all of them.

“They’re all sports that have taught us awareness of movement, coordination, and balance. That’s very important to develop as children,” Miro said in the podcast released in December.

Flora, speaking to Eurosport Italia, described skiing and jumping as “something that gives me freedom.”

Flora Recovering From Injury

Miro made his international debut in 2020, while Flora, three years younger, became the most successful Italian female freeski athlete in history when she debuted in 2022.

In 2025, the siblings won the men’s and women’s titles at the Freeski Big Air World Cup in Tignes, with Flora also claiming the Crystal Globe. Miro became the first Italian man to win a World Cup freestyle skiing event.

The pair were the first Italians to win gold at the Winter X Games in Big Air. Flora also won a Slopestyle event in Stoneham and ended the season with a World Cup Big Air title.

Flora’s preparations for Milano Cortina were interrupted in November by a knee ligament injury while training in Austria. However, she has recovered in time for the Games, with support from her brother.

“We’re back training together. He gives me strength when I’m feeling down and tons of advice. We always understand each other instantly,” she told Italian news agency Adnkronos this month.

Blood ties are central to the Tabanelli duo.

“We always travel together, we train together. That’s how we grew up: Miro would do something, and I would follow him. And I still happily do it,” Flora told Men’s Health Italia in October.

“Flora is a beautiful person,” Miro said in a joint interview. “Just one smile from her can make my day. Without her, this adventure wouldn’t have been the same.”

-Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Keith Weir/Reuters