Leonardo David

Leonardo David (27 September 1960 Gressoney-La-Trinité, Aosta Valley - 26 February 1985) was an Italian alpine skier who died of heart failure after 5 years in a coma caused by injuries he sustained in a crash at Lake Placid on 3 March 1979. David, who had won his first World Cup race a few days before his accident, fell a few yards before the finish of race 29 of the men's downhill World Cup series. David finished the season in 11th place in the men's overall competition, with 85 points. A racing piste is named after his memory on Gressoney Saint Jean.

Leonardo's parents run a small skishop at Gressoney and any visitor can drop by, see his skis, Italian skiteam posters on the shop roof showing Leonardo David, Piero Gros and Gustav Thöni among others, all his trophies on a shelf and lots of pictures. His mother keeps the shop as a little museum in memory of his beloved son. At the front wall of the Gressoney church, a memorial plaque stands to remain the story of Leonardo David, a former racer and loved son of the small alpine village.