Alpine Skiing is a dangerous sport. A split-second decision can mean the difference between winning a race and disaster. Alberto Tomba has achieved what no other skier has by risking everything, including his life. He is the only Alpine skier to win gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games and is one of only three skiers to win five Olympic Alpine skiing medals. Tomba is the most popular skier in the world. His athletic ability and controversial personality have earned him the nickname "La Bomba." In 1998 Tomba won his 50th World Cup race, but came up short of another medal at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Alberto Tomba was born December 19, 1966, in San Lazzarsm. His father, Franco, was a textile manufacturer and clothier, and his mother, Maria, was a housewife. He grew up in Bologna, a wealthy community near the Apennines Mountains with many fancy shops and expensive...