The Power And The Glory Of La Bomba

To his manager, Paolo Comellini, Tomba’s combination of raw strength and great technique makes him “a phenomenon.” If other skiers tried to do what Tomba does, claims Comellini, “I don’t think they would reach the end of the competition.” Tomba doesn’t lack for confidence. Arriving at the Olympic Village, he declared that it would soon be known as “Alberto-ville” and then proceeded to deliver on his boast. It was a defining moment for an athlete who only three years ago appeared on the verge of self-destructing.

At the ‘88 Games in Calgary, Tomba took golds in the slalom and giant slalom. Then, with millions of viewers watching on international television, Tomba showed up with a bouquet of flowers to woo figure-skater Katarina Witt-who turned him away. That didn’t slow La Bomba down. After Calgary he threw himself into the party chase. “I drank too much,” he says flatly. His bull-like body swelled up like a Black Angus in a feed pen. His concentration wavered. He stopped winning. In December 1989, a puffy Tomba fell in a World Cup Super-G race, breaking his collarbone. He was out for the season.

After the injury Tomba began to settle down. He started to work out in the gym, watch his diet and cook for himself, cutting back on the pasta and vino. He shed 15 pounds from his 5-foot-11 frame and hardened at 200. And he heeded his coach, Gustavo Thoeni, a soft-spoken and graceful ex-champion whose style provided the right counterpoint. “He speaks few words,” Tomba, “but always the right words.”

Thoeni was part of a growing Team Tomba-including trainers, doctors, a physiotherapist and a psychologist, Fulvio Guizza. With Guizza’s help, Tomba worked on his concentration, in part, as Comellini puts it, by going deep inside himself to “relive the most important moments of his life.” This season Tomba was back in form, taking seven firsts, four seconds and two thirds in 13 World Cup races. “It’s like he was born in the snow,” says Nadia Bonfini, a former member of the Italian ski team.

As the Olympics began, Tomba was at his peak. In the giant slalom he beat Luxembourg’s Marc Girardelli by .32 seconds. But in the first run of the slalom on Saturday, Tomba placed a miserable sixth. He went back to his hotel, shaved his face, focused his mind, adjusted his skis-and moved up a phenomenal four places in the second run to take the silver.

What’s next? More endorsements and maybe a film career. Tomba says that last year he called Sylvester Stallone. They chatted briefly about the possibilities. Comedies? Maybe. Adventure films? Most likely. Like Rocky? “No, Rambo,” Tomba specifies emphatically. Even if he doesn’t land a film role now, Tomba is only 25. He can try again after the next Winter Olympics in 1994, perhaps even in 1998. Time enough to create Tomba the Terminator.

title: “The Power And The Glory Of La Bomba " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Ester Williams”

To his manager, Paolo Comellini, Tomba’s combination of raw strength and great technique makes him “a phenomenon.” If other skiers tried to do what Tomba does, claims Comellini, “I don’t think they would reach the end of the competition.” Tomba doesn’t lack for confidence. Arriving at the Olympic Village, he declared that it would soon be known as “Alberto-ville” and then proceeded to deliver on his boast. It was a defining moment for an athlete who only three years ago appeared on the verge of self-destructing.

At the ‘88 Games in Calgary, Tomba took golds in the slalom and giant slalom. Then, with millions of viewers watching on international television, Tomba showed up with a bouquet of flowers to woo figure-skater Katarina Witt-who turned him away. That didn’t slow La Bomba down. After Calgary he threw himself into the party chase. “I drank too much,” he says flatly. His bull-like body swelled up like a Black Angus in a feed pen. His concentration wavered. He stopped winning. In December 1989, a puffy Tomba fell in a World Cup Super-G race, breaking his collarbone. He was out for the season.

After the injury Tomba began to settle down. He started to work out in the gym, watch his diet and cook for himself, cutting back on the pasta and vino. He shed 15 pounds from his 5-foot-11 frame and hardened at 200. And he heeded his coach, Gustavo Thoeni, a soft-spoken and graceful ex-champion whose style provided the right counterpoint. “He speaks few words,” Tomba, “but always the right words.”

Thoeni was part of a growing Team Tomba-including trainers, doctors, a physiotherapist and a psychologist, Fulvio Guizza. With Guizza’s help, Tomba worked on his concentration, in part, as Comellini puts it, by going deep inside himself to “relive the most important moments of his life.” This season Tomba was back in form, taking seven firsts, four seconds and two thirds in 13 World Cup races. “It’s like he was born in the snow,” says Nadia Bonfini, a former member of the Italian ski team.

As the Olympics began, Tomba was at his peak. In the giant slalom he beat Luxembourg’s Marc Girardelli by .32 seconds. But in the first run of the slalom on Saturday, Tomba placed a miserable sixth. He went back to his hotel, shaved his face, focused his mind, adjusted his skis-and moved up a phenomenal four places in the second run to take the silver.

What’s next? More endorsements and maybe a film career. Tomba says that last year he called Sylvester Stallone. They chatted briefly about the possibilities. Comedies? Maybe. Adventure films? Most likely. Like Rocky? “No, Rambo,” Tomba specifies emphatically. Even if he doesn’t land a film role now, Tomba is only 25. He can try again after the next Winter Olympics in 1994, perhaps even in 1998. Time enough to create Tomba the Terminator.