Praise where praise is due

[fpb]

There is a montain region in northern Italy where they speak German (rather, Tyrolean dialect) and treat anything and everything Italian with contempt and derision. I could say a lot of things about them, but there is no space here; let me just say that I do not treat South Tyrolers as Italians, and, although a large number of them race under Italian colours, especially in winter sports, when any of them wins "for Italy" and there is the three-coloured flag flying and our national anthem playing, I, for some reason, forget to applaud.

However, there is one person for whom I will make an exception. Her name is Denise Karbon, and apart from being a champion skier in giant slalom, she is a member of one of the Italian police forces. This shows unusual commitment to the country for a South Tyroler, and therefore I am willing to consider her an honorary Italian.

Which is just as well. Because a couple of days ago, young Denise crowned a sequel of triumphant slalom races by winning her seventh of the season -

- with a broken hand.