The magnificent four of the Italian biathlon immediately won a precious silver in the first race of the Olympic Games in Anterselva, behind a monstrous France. Tommaso Giacomel, Lukas Hofer, Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi with splendid teamwork left feared teams such as Germany and Norway behind. The Italian quartet withstood the pressure well. Competing at home, after a successful World Cup season, is not easy. Just as it certainly wasn’t easy to manage the Passler case, the young Italian athlete found positive for letrozole a few days before Milan Cortina.
The staff of technical director Klaus Hoellrigl managed to maintain calm and concentration in this delicate moment. All’s well that ends well. This is especially true for an impeccable Vittozzi. She had the very difficult task of the last fraction. France was ahead, now impregnable. Especially women – Lou Jeanmonnot and Juliahave Simon – have placed an important mortgage on these games. Before the last shooting range, Italy, Germany and Norway were competing for the second and third place on the podium in an exciting head-to-head match. Correct choice by the Italian team to focus on Lisa, given that she was very strong on skis, but above all she didn’t miss a beat. At the last shooting range, standing up, she fired a very fast sequence, visibly putting her rivals Germany and Norway into crisis who, after a moment, saw her shoot away again and – consequently – missed the target and therefore had to deviate on the penalty lap.
«The last fraction I was more nervous than usual, but I managed to do a good relay and I’m happy», said a radiant Vittozzi. The ice is now broken. In Anterselva the Azzurri came away on the podium in practically every race. But in biathlon, as seen today with Germany and Norway, the rankings change quickly. «We just need to continue like this, we have played one match out of six and there are still many possibilities», highlights Giacomel, who today with an excellent throwing fraction paved the way for his teammates. Doro Wierer will end his splendid career right here at home. “It wasn’t very simple, we knew we had a good chance and that’s why it’s even more difficult,” he said, confessing that before the start he was shaking and his legs were heavy. However, nothing of this was seen in the race, because the veteran knows how to focus like few athletes. “I was very nervous but despite everything we showed an excellent performance, we will try to enjoy this moment to the fullest”, added Dorothea, visibly relieved. A good first, now the Italians, as on the shooting range, must maintain concentration and move their sights onto the next target, on the 15 kilometer women’s individual on Tuesday. It will be another day of great cheering. The Biathlon Arena was sold out today, with 19,000 spectators. More and more Italians are discovering this exciting sport, full of twists and turns.