FIS coach Nadia Bortoluzzi becomes latest graduate of the WISH programme

The Women in Sports High-performance programme (WISH) has a new graduate: Nadia Bortoluzzi is the latest female coach from FIS to participate in the 21-month long course, beginning in 2023 before officially graduating in January 2025.  

WISH is a direct response from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to the under-representation of women among elite coaches in sport.  

It provides access to leadership training, leadership mentoring, sport-specific mentoring, and training led by respective international federations, who work together with a willingness to learn from each other and share their best practices.  

Federations remain active beyond the length of the programme, supporting and guiding coaches throughout their progress.  

“Participating in the WISH programme has been a transformative experience. It not only boosted my confidence but also taught me to approach challenges from different perspectives,” says recent graduate Nadia.

For Nadia, coaching has been a natural progression in a journey committed to Alpine Skiing. Despite being born in the city, the Italian knew she belonged on the snow the moment she put on skis.  

Moving to Cortina d’Ampezzo kickstarted a career that now spans decades, eventually becoming an athlete while continuing to study. 

With her racing days now behind her, Nadia has channeled her passion into coaching mission and even teaches at her own ski club in Cortina, passing on a wealth of knowledge. 

The WISH programme has not only influenced her everyday education, but also how she approaches guiding the younger generation. 

“The course struck me regarding networking — it is essential for every sport to work as a team, especially in this era of premature burn out,” she told FIS.

Nadia’s participation in the WISH programme is part of FIS’ continued commitment to fostering an inclusive environment with the help of its members.  

As part of the federation’s five-year strategic plan, it will continue to ensure that diversity, gender equality, and inclusion are considered at all levels of the organisation.  

“Skiing is still a sport mastered by men; I have been working on it for 24 years and I no longer see it as a challenge but as an opportunity,” Nadia adds, on her message to those on a similar path to hers. 

“My hope is to now become a model female coach who has learned both on the slopes and in the classroom.”  

You can read our full Q&A with Nadia below.

Nadia, congratulations on your graduation from the WISH programme. Could you tell us more about your background and how you came to be an Alpine Skiing Coach? 

I was born in the city but as soon as I put skis on, I fell in love with this sport. I moved alone from the city to Cortina d’Ampezzo to study and train. I became an athlete in Alpine skiing, competing in all disciplines, reaching the European Cup with good results. I continued my university studies to graduate in Physical Education and my passion turned into a mission by becoming a ski instructor and coach. I love coaching and I have my own ski club in Cortina for under-10s and under-12s. In the autumn, I work with FIS Development where I follow training on the slopes and athletic training. I love coaching and having been an athlete, I find myself carrying out tasks where I feel really at ease. 

What was your experience doing the WISH programme like? 

FIS Development invited me to participate in the WISH programme in London, in August 2023. Initially, I didn’t really know what it was but I took this opportunity as a personal challenge and, with great commitment, I completed it in January 2025. The course took place across a week in London along with eight online sessions. I also had eight meetings with a very good mentor who helped me. 

What kind of activities did you do or key lessons did you learn? 

WISH is a super organized programme bringing together 34 top-level female coaches of various sports. Interacting with each other helped me grow personally, and the difficulties of an individual, brought together in a group, always found a resolution to the problem. Here are some things I learned:  
 
1. Prioritize your own well being to operate at one’s best 
2. Be relentlessly curious about personal and professional development and actively seek out learning opportunities 
3. Invest time in learning about individuals and their strengths, motivations, and ambitions  
4. Bring people together to develop objectives and targets, and translate these into effective plans  

I learned to listen to the stories of colleagues from other sports and to talk about my own without embarrassment or fear — it helped me be brave.  

How do you feel your participation in the WISH programme will help your career moving forward? 

I believe that every teaching and course improves your progression growth. In addition to giving you good lessons, it gives you with challenging tasks to plan, understand and correct your way of thinking and relating to others. My hope is that this course will put me in a good position to work as a female coach in FIS, continuing with a greater qualification in the work I already do as a ski coach and athletic trainer. I hope to also be involved in other scheduled camps. 

Why was it important for you to be able to take part in the programme at this stage of your coaching career? 

The enthusiasm I have in my work has always been very high and despite having been a coach for 24 years now. This course has given me a new energy to not want to settle and not to be afraid to ask. 

How important do you feel it is for organizations to give opportunities, like the WISH programme, to help the careers of budding female coaches? 

The WISH course really struck me regarding networking. It is essential for every sport to work as a team, especially in this era of premature burn out. Coaches should think of the common good of skiing and not the individual athlete to be used as a trophy. In fact, in my ski club, I teach how to train and improve without the stress that if you don’t win you are a nobody. I teach that skiing is a sport but can become your hobby for life. 

What message would you give to any women out there who want to become coaches but haven’t yet made that step to doing so? 

Skiing is still a sport mastered by men. I have been working o it for 24 years and I no longer see it as a challenge but as an opportunity. Educating ourselves and networking is essential for us women to avoid falling into habits. Nowadays we need to be good all-round coaches, not just technique wise but [we need to have] empathy and see athletes as individual people who grow, not as numbers who just have to do the best. 

And lastly, is there anything else you’d like to say?  

I would like to thank FIS for this opportunity and WISH for the lessons and new motivation it gave me. My hope is to enter FIS as a model female coach who has learned both on the slopes and in the classroom to organise, manage and train groups of athletes from different nations, training them and following them in their needs.