Antholz has delivered both triumph and anticipation for Team Italy. Dominik Windisch reflects on Lisa Vittozzi’s Olympic gold in the Pursuit, a masterclass in composure, technical precision and self-belief—an achievement shaped as much by resilience as by talent. Windisch sees a real chance for Tommaso Giacomel in the Mass Start, provided he controls his pace and avoids unnecessary risks in a race that forces athletes to stay in the moment.

Lisa Vittozzi’s Olympic gold in the Pursuit was built above all on shooting excellence. Her composure on the range stood out: she shot fast but without unnecessary risk, fully in control of the moment. That calm precision blended perfectly with her consistent skiing pace. She was never rushed, never forced beyond her rhythm. The foundation had already been laid in the Sprint, where she hit all targets, finished fifth, and positioned herself ideally for a measured yet decisive attack in the Pursuit.

With Olympic gold now added to her World Championship titles and a win in the Total Score, Vittozzi has completed the collection of biathlon’s most prestigious trophies. Yet her legacy may ultimately be defined not only by what she has won, but by how she responded to adversity. After going through one of the deepest crises of her career, she fought her way back to the very top. That resilience—her determination to return stronger than before—may stand as her most enduring legacy. At least I see her legacy like that.

Her mental strength in Antholz reflected the sum of experiences, both good and bad, from recent seasons. She competed without obsessing over results, focusing purely on execution and giving everything she could on the day. After the Sprint, despite narrowly missing the podium, she expressed satisfaction with her performance because she had done everything right. She carried that mindset into the Pursuit. She stayed present, her thoughts never drifting toward the gold medal itself. After the Mixed Relay, where she brought home a silver medal for Italy, I asked her to describe her performance in one word. “Self-confidence,” she said. After all the ups and downs, she knows herself extremely well.

Looking ahead to the Mass Start, Tommaso Giacomel remains a serious contender despite not yet winning an individual medal in Antholz. He has not had the Olympics he wished for, but he has remained clear about his ambitions. The Mass Start suits his strengths. It is a discipline defined by direct, man-to-man battles and unpredictable dynamics. The race dictates the rhythm, and situations change too quickly to dwell on mistakes. Athletes always know exactly where they stand in the field. There is little time for reflection—only focus on the next shooting. The Sprint and Individual are very different; there is a lot of time on the tracks to think about missed shots. And the pressure before the next shooting stage can at times be overwhelming.

For Giacomel, the key in the Mass Start will be managing the prone shooting, where he has missed relatively many targets in his individual races. In Antholz, pacing is crucial. Approaching the range too aggressively often proves costly. The smarter approach is to stay within a personal pace that best supports shooting stability. Bold attacks just before the shooting may be tempting, but patience and control will be more valuable. The advice is simple: avoid bold attacks just before entering the shooting range, trust your pace—and relax.