Frank Thomas

Notable Sports Figures
in a fall during the giant slalom, and two days later, after
coming in seventeenth place in the first run of the slalom,
he withdrew from the event and did not make a second
run. Speculation was rampant that this was the end for
Tomba, but he came back at the end of the 1998 World
Cup season, achieving his fiftieth career victory in the
last race of the World Cup finals that year. In October of
1998 he announced his retirement with a simple one-line
statement: “I reflected a lot before deciding, but I leave
skiing with much affection for all of those who in these
many years followed me and incited me to victory.”
Skiing after Tomba
“The ultimate anomaly in a sport filled with sinewy,
dour hermits from Switzerland, Austria and Scandinavia
who grew up tending cows and learning to ski out of necessity,
Tomba was a lowlander, a rich kid and an urban
dude—in truth, the first big-city guy ever to win
Olympic skiing gold,” Curry Kirkpatrick wrote in Sports
Illustrated in 1992. With his rock-star status, he brought
scores of people who might not otherwise have been skiing
fans to the sport, and with his flamboyant lifestyle
and his dominance in the slalom and giant slalom,
Tomba is sure to be remembered for years to come.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Periodicals
Brennan, Christine. “Tomba True to Word: Gets Gold in
Giant Slalom.” Washington Post (February 26, 1988):
G1.
Bronikowski, Lynn. “Playboy’s Tour of Duty: Promote
Vail.” Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) (May 12,
1996): 2B.
“Bronze Medal Helps to Salvage Tomba’s Pride.” Times
(London, England) (February 17, 1997): 24.
Cassert, Raf. “Muted Farewell for La Bomba.” Independent
Sunday (London, England) (February 22, 1998):
16.
Chadband, Ian. “La Bomba Goes for Last Descent.”
Sunday Times (London, England) (December 15,
1996): 15.
Clarey, Christopher. “For a Struggling Tomba, an Uncertain
Bronze.” International Herald Tribune (February
17, 1997): 20.
Clarey, Christopher. “Irrepressible Tomba, Having Won
It All, Hangs Up His Skis.” International Herald Tribune
(October 5, 1998): 24.
“Coy Tomba Spins a Web of Intrigue.” Buffalo News
(Buffalo, NY) (February 18, 1998): C4.
Dufresne, Chris. “Quake Makes Presence Known on
Slopes; Tomba Doesn’t.” Los Angeles Times (February
21, 1998).
Dufresne, Chris. “Tomba, Old Man of the Mountain, Is
Ready to Take on the Youngsters.” Los Angeles Times
(February 17, 1998): 1.
Tomba
Farber, Michael. “Back in Style.” Sports Illustrated
(January 16, 1995): 34-37.
Grudowski, Mike, and Kvinta, Paul. “Alberto: A Life.”
Outside Magazine (December, 1998).
Holford, Nicky. “Bomba Proof: Italy Will Always Come
First for Alberto ‘la Bomba’ Tomba.” Guardian
(London, England) (December 4, 1999): 13.
“Italian Ski Lift.” Financial Times (March 22, 1996): 19.
Johnson, William Oscar. “The Alberto-ville Games.”
Sports Illustrated (March 2, 1992): 22-25.
Johnson, William Oscar. “It Turned out Schuss Fine.”
Sports Illustrated (February 1, 1988): 16-19.
Johnson, William Oscar. “Master of the Mountain.”
Sports Illustrated (March 7, 1988): 46-49.
“Kaelin Gets Even with Tomba.” Star-Ledger (Newark,
NJ) (March 10, 1996): 22.
Kirkpatrick, Curry. “La Bomba.” Sports Illustrated
(February 3, 1992): 52-60.
Kiszla, Mark. “Sated Tomba Seeks New Hills to Conquer.”
Denver Post (March 14, 1997): C-02.
Loverro, Thom. “Make Way for Italy’s Minister of
Fun.” Washington Times (February 13, 1998): 8.
Meyer, John. “Vail Puts Tomba in the Saddle: Skiing
Star Signs Deal to Promote Resorts.” Rocky Mountain
News (Denver, CO) (February 22, 1996): 1B.
Newman, Bruce. “La Bomba’s a Real Blast.” Sports Illustrated
(January 25, 1988): 30-33.
O’Hagan, Simon. “Weaver of a Golden Legend: Close-
Up: Alberto Tomba.” Independent Sunday (London,
England) (February 25, 1996): 22.
Paige, Woody. “Tomba and I, Just Out Being Playboys.”
Denver Post (February 13, 1998): D-06.
Skow, John. “Champagne Runs.” Time (March 7, 1988):
67-68.
Starcevic. “Amiez Edges Past Tomba for World Cup
Slalom Title.” Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
(March 11, 1996): 15B.
Thomas, Pete. “Entertainment Mogul: Retirement Has
Hardly Slowed Alberto Tomba, the Flamboyant Fun-
Loving Former Olympic and World Skiing Champion.”
Los Angeles Times (January 26, 2001): D-10.
“Tomba Accused of Assault.” Independent (London,
England) (March 20, 1996): 23.
“Tomba Cleared.” Times (London, England) (February
1, 2002): 6.
“Tomba Flashes His Olympic Form.” Rocky Mountain
News (Denver, CO) (January 9, 1998): 16C.
“Tomba Is Gracious in Losing Slalom Crown.” Seattle
Times (March 11, 1996): C8.
“Tomba Is Indicted.” International Herald Tribune (November
27, 1998): 22.
“Tomba Joins Rush to Laud Maier’s Show.” Independent
(London, England) (February 20, 1998): 27.
“Tomba May Go Out a Winner After All.” Rocky Mountain
News (Denver, CO) (March 16, 1998): 18C.
“Tomba Out of Slalom.” Tampa Tribune (February 21,
1998): 10.
1625