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An Olympic athlete was forced to undergo heart surgery after withdrawing from a race in Milan Cortina.
The Italian biathlete Tommaso Giacomel decided not to participate in the 15-kilometer mass start due to respiratory problems.
“A subsequent electrophysiological study revealed an abnormality in atrial conduction, which recommended a subsequent ablation, which has already been performed and was very successful,” the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) announced on Tuesday.
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Tommaso Giacomel of Team Italy watches before the Men’s 15 km Mass Start on Day 14 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Livigno Snow Park on February 20, 2026 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. (Grega Valancic/VOIGT/GettyImages)
“Tommaso will be discharged on Thursday morning and will undergo further checks scheduled within two weeks. Once completed, he will be allowed to return to regular training.”
Giacomel wrote on his Instagram Story that he was “gutted” that his season was “over.”
“I’m fine, if I can say I’m fine when I had to drop out while leading an Olympic race…” Giacomel wrote in an Instagram post last week with a photo of himself from a hospital bed.
Tommasso Giacomel of Italy prepares to shoot at the Olympic Games. (Hendrik Schmidt/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
“Right after the second lay, my body somehow stopped working properly and I was having a hard time breathing and moving, so I had to stop. The worst feeling I have ever experienced in my life so far. I tried to ski very slowly in the first part of the third lap, but my body wouldn’t allow me to ski any more.
“A lot of things are going through my head right now… frustration, anger, disappointment… It’s devastating. It’s devastating to stop, but there was nothing I could do against my own body today. Absolutely not the end of the games I expected, but I will never give up. 4 years go by quickly and I will try again in France. I will do some medical checks in the next few days to find out what went wrong today. I will keep you posted. Thank you for the tremendous support.”
Tommaso Giacomel of Team Italy in action during the Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit on day nine of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Anterselva Biathlon Arena on February 15, 2026 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. (Kevin Voigt/Getty Images)
Early in the Games, Giacomel earned a silver medal in the mixed relay. He has three other silver medals in world championships and five victories in Biathalon World Cups.
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