THE SEAL OF THE MAGNIFICA COMUNITÀ VAL DI FIEMME HONORS ITS LEGENDS

There are champions who make sports history and places that become an unforgettable part of their achievements. For Frida Karlsson, Justyna Kowalczyk, Kamil Stoch and Adam Małysz, Val di Fiemme is certainly one of these: a region where sport, emotions and memories intertwine, and which in recent days has honoured four internationally renowned champions with the Seal of the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme. This honour celebrates prominent figures from different eras, united by their extraordinary achievements in Val di Fiemme, in the heart of the Trentino Dolomites, which now symbolically welcomes them into its community.

This initiative was organized after the success of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by the Fiemme and Cembra Tourist Board, Trentino Marketing, Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme and the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme to pay tribute to the athletes whose achievements have left an indelible mark between Predazzo and Lago di Tesero.

A few days ago, the award was presented to cross-country skier Frida Karlsson, a recognition that was as unexpected as it was welcome for the Swedish champion, who accepted it with great emotion. Karlsson, among the strongest cross-country skiers in the world, was among the standout performers at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, winning two gold medals and one silver on the tracks of the Cross-Country Stadium in Lago di Tesero. The 1999-born champion’s list of achievements also includes three World Championship gold medals and nearly twenty World Cup victories, in addition to her 2023 victory in the Tour de Ski, the prestigious stage race that traditionally concludes in Val di Fiemme. The Seal was presented to her in Stockholm by a delegation from Trentino led by Tito Giovannini, head of the provincial Olympic coordination office, and by Paolo Gilmozzi, President of the Fiemme e Cembra Tourist Board, who said: “For us, who for years have had the honour of welcoming such high-level athletes to our valley, this recognition represents much more than just an award. It is part of that Olympic Legacy, which means, first and foremost, awareness: knowing who we are, where we come from, and how far we’ve come thanks to the daily work, perseverance, and dedication of all our valley residents. Being able to count on such prestigious ambassadors—who, through the Seal of the Magnifica Comunità, are recognized as authentic ‘fiammazzi’—is something truly special. With the Seal, we didn’t just want to pay tribute to great champions: we wanted to make them feel part of our history and our family.”

In late September, the Seal of the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme was awarded to three legends of Polish sports:  the two-time Olympic gold medallist in cross-country skiing Justyna Kowalczyk, who distinguished herself in Val di Fiemme with four victories in the Tour de Ski; and ski jumping champions Kamil Stoch, a three-time Olympic champion and key figure in the victory at the 2013 World Championships in Predazzo, and Adam Małysz, for his historic achievements at the 2003 World Championships. During the ceremony in Poland, the awards were presented by Paolo Gilmozzi and Pietro De Godenz, president of Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme, who added: “This is a very important recognition. Athletes have always been warmly welcomed in Val di Fiemme, as have the delegations from their respective federations. They are always happy to return; they feel at home and experience a warmth that is evident even in the hotels that host them. With this initiative, we have embarked on a journey to pay tribute to outstanding figures in international Nordic skiing—both today’s champions and those who have made significant contributions to the sport in years past. Getting them involved was easy, and seeing athletes of this calibre truly grateful gives us great pleasure.”

Meanwhile, a new winter season is approaching in Val di Fiemme, packed with major sporting events—and the future recipients of the Seal could very well be among the stars of these competitions. In collaboration with US Dolomitica, the Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping Italian Championships are scheduled for Saturday, October 31. These two disciplines will once again take centre stage in December: from the 11th to the 13th, the Nordic Combined World Cup will take place, followed on the 19th and 20th by the Ski Jumping Continental Cup.

In 2027, the Tour de Ski will return with the final stage of the 21st edition, taking place from January 8 to 10, while the Italian Cross-Country Skiing Championships will be held in collaboration with US Cornacci on the weekend of January 16 and 17.

@newspower