Tears well up for Tommaso Giacomel during the interview with news. The Italian has just heard the supportive words from teammate Dorothea Wierer (33). She is Italy’s biggest biathlon star and has been involved in “everything” in biathlon. It doesn’t have the two biggest male profiles in the country yet, and it was in their stages that everything went wrong for Italy in the mixed relay. – They are of course very sad, but they are very young and have ten more years with the WC, comforts Wierer. FAILURE: Didier Bionaz had a hard day at work. Photo: BILDBYRÅN For 23-year-old Didier Bionaz, there were two penalty rounds, old Giacomel got away with one. The latter appreciated the words from Wierer and told about a touching meeting with his teammate after the race. – I was just in the dressing room and I saw that he was crying. Didier is like a brother to me. To see him like that, it was terrible, says Giacomel and begins to cry himself. – What did you say to him? – I just gave him a big hug and said that “we only do biathlon”. That’s not everything in life. Today was a difficult day, but we will fight back, he urges. Norway has long been known for its victories and celebrations on relays, but today Julia Simon took sweet revenge during the mixed relay at the WC. – Although nothing, Italy was among the medal favorites during the WC’s opening distance. They are still in 10th place, over four minutes behind the winners from France. A shocking result in the biathlon community. In the middle of a hectic and intensive relay, Norway’s superstar Johannes Thingnes Bø managed to register Italy’s day of failure. SURPRISED: Johannes Thingnes Bø. Photo: NTB While eager Czech fans clamor for an autograph and a photo, he shares his thoughts on the biggest surprise of the day in Nove Mesto. – I didn’t understand anything when Italy came far behind there. I don’t know what happened earlier in the race, but there must have been a few penalty rounds. This was perhaps their biggest medal chance in the championship. It’s clear, then one will be disappointed, says the stroking. – Maybe a little scared The last athlete on the Italian team was Lisa Vittozzi. The same four biathletes took part in the mixed relay for Italy during the WC last year. Then it was a silver medal, which gives security for the future. You occasionally have a bad day in biathlon, a sport with great contrasts. – Our boys may be a bit scared, but they also had a lot of pressure on them. It can sometimes happen that you have to go out in the penalty round. It is difficult if you start with a penalty round. The track here is very tough, so you can’t catch up much, says Wierer. STARS: Dorothea Wierer has 12 WC medals, four gold, throughout her career. Photo: AP Giacomel did not let himself be stressed. He is number ten in the world cup overall and hopes to rise in the individual race. – It was a terrible day for us, but I see no reason to be worried. The WC has just started and we have many races ahead of us, he says. Celebrated as Norway: – Should have taken a somersault 00:43 “Shocked” by the team-mate’s first news interview 01:09 Driven rough with a golf cart: – He’s a “crazy dude” 00:56 When Easter comes a little too early… 00:35 show more
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