Italian biathlete Tommaso Giacomel underwent a successful heart procedure following a collapse during the mass start race at the Olympic Winter Games, his team announced Monday. The 25-year-old is expected to be discharged from the hospital in Milan on Thursday and will undergo a follow-up examination in two weeks before resuming normal training.
“My season is over. Disappointed,” Giacomel posted on Instagram. The silver medalist in the mixed relay will miss the remaining World Cup competitions in Kontiolahti, Finland (March 5-8), Otepää, Estonia (March 12-15), and Oslo, Norway (March 19-22).
Giacomel was forced to withdraw from the mass start race in Antholz on February 25th due to health concerns. “Immediately after the second shooting, my body just stopped working properly, and I had real trouble breathing and moving,” Giacomel wrote in a post accompanying a photo from his hospital bed. He was unable to finish the race, collapsing on the course. “The worst feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life,” he added.
Extensive Medical Evaluation
According to a statement from the Italian federation, Giacomel underwent thorough testing at the clinic, including CT scans, MRIs, and a stress test, all of which came back normal. However, a subsequent electrophysiological examination revealed an atrial conduction disturbance, necessitating the ablation procedure.
Giacomel was hoping to build on his silver medal in the mixed relay and contend for medals in the individual races at his home event in South Tyrol. Despite consistently being among the favorites, he fell short of the podium. He has stated his intention to continue competing through the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. “4 years fly by quickly and I’ll try again in France,” Giacomel announced. (ssc/dpa)
