The Italian biathlon star was leading the Olympic mass start on home snow, then he collapsed and disappeared into the woods. Now Tommaso Giacomel has undergone heart surgery.

The Italian biathlete led the Olympic mass start halfway through and looked set to deliver the race of his life, on the biggest stage, in front of tens of thousands of ecstatic home fans. Then he suddenly vanished into the woods and did not finish.

After the race, Tommaso Giacomel said he had experienced acute breathing problems.

Also Read: What happened to your form, Tommy?

Successful procedure

Following the collapse, Giacomel underwent a series of medical examinations, and on Tuesday, he had a heart procedure known as an ablation. The Italian Ski Federation confirmed the news.

According to medical sources, ablation is a treatment that involves removing or destroying abnormal or damaged tissue.

Disturbing scene

Just before he disappeared from the TV broadcast, he was clutching his chest. Johan-Olav Botn, who was skiing directly behind him, witnessed the incident.

After the race, Giacomel explained that he had experienced acute breathing difficulties.

“Right after the second prone shooting, my body somehow stopped functioning properly, and I really struggled to breathe and to move. That’s why I had to stop,” Tommaso Giacomel wrote on Instagram after the race.

“The worst feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life so far. A lot is going through my head right now… frustration, anger, disappointment… It’s crushing. It’s crushing to have to stop, but there was nothing I could do against my own body today,” he continued.

Now Giacomel is looking ahead.

“This was absolutely not the ending to the Games that I had hoped for, but I will never give up. Four years go quickly, and I will try again in France.”

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