Bio
- Name: Sophie Mathiou
- Date & place of birth: Aosta-Italy, 5th February 2002
- Hometown: Gressan (AO)
- Family: Igor, Sabrina (parents), Thierry, Henri (siblings)
- Teams: Italian National Team #2 “technical” disciplines / Centro Sportivo Carabinieri
- Focus disciplines: slalom, giant slalom, supergiant
- Strengths: Curious, enterprising, determined, constant, stubborn
- Hobbies: Mountain hiking, biking, travelling and discovering new places, playing tennis, learning foreign languages
Portrait
It’s no surprise that Sophie is involved in alpine skiing, considering her family background. Her grandmother, Roselda Joux, and her aunt, Sonia Vierin, were professional athletes who competed for the Italian team for several years, earning Olympic and World Championship accolades. Additionally, Sophie’s mother, Sabrina, is a skiing teacher.
Sophie’s journey in skiing began at the age of two when she first experienced the snow. It didn’t take long for her talent to shine through as she qualified for the international phases of the “Topolino” and “Pinocchio” ski trophies. She even emerged victorious in the slalom race at the Alpe Cimbra FIS Children Cup in 2018. While her focus lies in technical disciplines like giant slalom and slalom, she also excels in speed events, showcasing her versatility.
After spending a decade with her hometown team, the “Ski Club Pila” in Gressan, Sophie was promoted to the regional team of Aosta Valley (ASIVA). In 2018, she made her debut in FIS races and on March 29th, 2019, she clinched the Italian “aspiranti” slalom title at Passo San Pellegrino, triumphing over older opponents. This achievement also earned her third place in the “Gran Premio Italia” racing circuit.
In 2018, Sophie joined the sports team of the “Carabinieri,” allowing her to further improve her skills. At the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, she left a lasting impression with her strong performances in both giant slalom and alpine combined events, consistently vying for a medal.
Prior to the 2020-21 season, Sophie was selected for the junior national Italian team, and she earned her first points in the European Cup. Then, on March 10th, 2021, she made headlines by clinching the slalom World Junior title in Bansko (BUL), a result that no Italian skier had accomplished in 28 years.
This remarkable achievement paved the way for Sophie’s debut in the World Cup finals at Lenzerheide. On March 20th, 2021, after participating in the Team Event (and winning her run), she competed in her first individual race at the top level of the sport, marking the first step toward a promising future…
Sophie possesses an outstanding and competitive attitude, always attacking the race course and giving her best until the finish line. Her determination has garnered her a substantial following, making her one of the most closely watched young skiers of our time.
