Italian Vitoci Wins Olympic Biathlon Gold | Latvia’s Volfa Qualifies for Mass Start

ANTERSELVA, Italy – Lisa Vittozzi delivered a historic moment for Italian biathlon on Sunday, February 15, 2026, securing the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 10km pursuit at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The victory, achieved with a flawless shooting performance, ignited the home crowd at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena.

Vittozzi, starting with the fifth bib number, completed the course in 30 minutes and 11.8 seconds. Her clean shooting was the decisive factor, allowing her to capitalize on struggles from competitors ahead and build a commanding lead.

The silver medal went to Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide, despite incurring three penalty laps. Kirkeeide, who won the sprint race and started the pursuit as the leader, finished 28.8 seconds behind Vittozzi. Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen claimed the bronze medal, also shooting clean and finishing 34.3 seconds off the pace.

The race showcased a compelling battle for the podium, with several athletes contending throughout the course. Kirkeeide’s lead began to erode as the race progressed, particularly during the final shooting stage where she faltered. Vittozzi, maintaining composure and accuracy, seized the opportunity to move into first place.

The Italian team’s success extended beyond Vittozzi’s gold. Earlier in the Games, Italy secured a silver medal in the mixed relay and a bronze in the same event in 2018, building momentum towards this historic individual triumph. Vittozzi’s victory follows a remarkable comeback, having missed an entire season due to back problems after winning the overall World Cup and 15km gold at the 2024 world championships.

The performance of the Latvian biathletes was also notable. According to reports from Latvian Television (LTV), Baiba Bendika finished with one penalty lap, trailing the leader by 1 minute and 38.1 seconds. While not a podium finish, Bendika expressed satisfaction with her performance, noting she conserved energy for a strong final lap. This result qualifies her for the mass start event scheduled for Saturday, February 21st.

Also competing for Latvia, Līga Volfa finished further back, 4 minutes and 5.4 seconds behind Vittozzi, incurring seven penalties. Meanwhile, Inga Buliņa faced more challenges, accumulating four penalty laps and finishing 4 minutes and 56.3 seconds off the winning time.

Volfa shared her positive feelings with LTV, stating she was pleased with her performance and particularly with her pace on the final lap. Her strong showing in the pursuit race marks her first qualification for the mass start event.

Vittozzi’s victory is particularly significant given the context of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The Games, which run until February 22nd, have provided a platform for athletes to showcase their skills on the world stage. For Italy, this gold medal represents a landmark achievement in biathlon, a sport where they have historically faced strong competition from nations like Norway and France.

The race highlighted the importance of both skiing ability and shooting accuracy in biathlon. While Kirkeeide demonstrated her strength in the skiing portion, her errors on the shooting range ultimately cost her the gold medal. Vittozzi’s ability to maintain a perfect record on the range, combined with her solid skiing, proved to be the winning formula.

The result sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the biathlon events at the Milano Cortina Games. With the mass start event approaching, athletes will be looking to build on their performances and contend for further medals. Vittozzi’s victory will undoubtedly inspire the Italian team and further energize the home crowd.

The win also solidifies Vittozzi’s position as a leading figure in the sport, demonstrating her resilience and determination after overcoming a challenging period with injury. Her performance on Sunday will be remembered as a defining moment in Italian Olympic history.