Alessia Dipol

Alessia Afi Dipol (born 1 August 1995)^[1][2][3] is an Italian-Togolese alpine skier who competed for Togo at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in the slalom and giant slalom.^[4][5] Dipol also originally competed for India between 2011 and 2013,^[6] but she later switched to compete for Togo even though she has no familial connections to the country,^[2] so she could qualify to compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics.^[2] She also chose to represent the country because her father owns a clothing factory in Togo.^[7]

Alessia Dipol

Personal information
Full name	Alessia Afi Dipol
Born	(1995-08-01) 1 August 1995 (age 29) Pieve di Cadore, Veneto, Italy[1]
Occupation	Alpine skier
Height	168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Skiing career
Disciplines	Slalom, giant slalom
Club	Scuola Sci Cortina
World Cup debut	6 January 2018 (age 22)
Olympics
Teams	1 – (2014)
Medals	0
World Cup
Seasons	1 – (2018)
Wins	0
Medal record Women's alpine skiing Representing  Togo

Personal life

Dipol was born in Pieve di Cadore, Belluno to Italian parents in the region of Veneto in Italy and lives with her family in San Vito di Cadore. She attended the Liceo Linguistico Europeo school in Auronzo di Cadore.^[8][5]

Dipol works as a ski instructor for the Italian ski club Scuola Sci Cortina.^[9]

Career

Italy

Dipol started her youth career while registered with the Italian Winter Sports Federation between 2009 and 2010.^[5]

India

Dipol joined the Winter Games Federation of India making her debut for India in 2011. She took part in FIS competitions and the Italian Championships representing India until 2013.^[8][10]

Togo

Dipol decided to compete as part of Togo's first Winter Olympics team at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi. Although she has no family ties to Togo, Dipol became a naturalized citizen in order to take part in the Winter Olympics.^[11][12]

Dipol on making her debut for the Togo national team:^[13]

My father has a factory in Togo that specialises in sports clothes. He has a feeling for the nation, and I have an opportunity to run for Togo, and I am proud of this. Even though I was born in Italy and I live and train in Italy, now I will always stay with Togo, which is like a new family that has adopted me.

On 18 February Dipol finished the giant slalom race in 55th position out of 74 competitors who finished, with a total time of 3 minutes 2.80 seconds.^[14] She did not finish the slalom race after starting the first run.^[15] She carried the Togolese flag at the closing ceremony.^[16]

She also participated in 2015 FIS Alpine Ski Europa Cup and 2018 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.^[17]

Alpine skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).^[3]

Olympic results

Year
	Age	Slalom	Giant Slalom	Super-G	Downhill	Combined	Team Event
2014	18	DNF	55	—	—	—	—

World Cup results

Season
	Age	Overall	Slalom	Giant Slalom	Super G	Downhill	Combined
2018	22	NC	DNF1	DNF1	—	—	—

European Cup results

Season	Age	Overall	Slalom	Giant Slalom	Super-G	Downhill	Combined
2015	19	—	—	DNF1	—	—	—

See also

• Togo at the 2014 Winter Olympics

References

1. "Alessia Dipol". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
2. Zidda, Giovanni (31 January 2014). "Une skieuse italienne porte-drapeau pour le Togo à Sotchi" [An Italian skier bearer for Togo in Sochi]. www.rtbf.be (in French). RTBF. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
3. "Alessia Dipol". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
4. Laura (29 January 2014). "Le Togo allongera la liste des pays tropicaux aux jeux d'hiver". french.china.org.cn/ (in French). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
5. "Dalle Dolomiti al Togo, il sogno olimpico di Alessia Dipol". Sky Sport. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
6. "Alessia Dipol". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Archived from the original on 31 January 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
7. "Togolese from Italy, Brazilians who can't speak Portuguese – meet the Olympics' 'exotic' athletes". Reuters. Yahoo. 18 February 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
8. "Sci, Alessia Di Pol, a Sochi grazie ad India e Togo". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
9. "Alessia Dipol". Scuola Sci Cortina. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
10. Falcini, Dario (7 February 2014). "Olimpiadi Sochi 2014, la portabandiera del Togo è una sciatrice veneta". il Fatto Quotidiano. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
11. "Togo's Olympian aims to inspire". Associated Press. 13 February 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
12. Annika, Annika (18 February 2014). "Exotic underdogs not all they seem to be". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
13. Mcnicoll, Tracy (9 February 2018). "Five rings, one dream: African athletes' winding road to PyeongChang Winter Games". France24. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
14. Mumuni, Moutakilou (18 February 2014). "Togo: Sochi 2014 / Giant slalom – Togo's Alessia Dipol 55th Overall, Tina Maze Snatches Gold". AllAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
15. Basu, Anand (21 February 2014). "Olympics-Alpine skiing-Women's slalom first run result". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
16. "Sochi 2014 Closing Ceremony - Flagbearers" (PDF). The International Olympic Committee (IOC). 23 February 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
17. Pavčnik, Martin (6 January 2018). "Pod Pohorjem Kenija, pod Vitrancem Togo". Siol.net. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.

External links

• Alessia Dipol at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
• Alessia Dipol at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
• Alessia Dipol at Olympics.com
• Alessia Dipol at Olympedia
• Alessia Dipol at Ski-DB Alpine Ski Database