The Italian biathlete hasn’t competed since winning the overall biathlon World Cup in 2024. Now, the 30-year-old is putting on a bib for the first time in over a year, as the first step toward a home Olympics.

Since winning the overall World Cup title in March 2024, Lisa Vittozzi has not raced once. But in a month, she will make her comeback in Norway.

A persistent back injury caused the Italian biathlon star to miss the entire 2024/2025 season. Ahead of the 2026 Olympics on home soil, Vittozzi has chosen to follow her path, training outside the national team with close support from two personal coaches.

Comeback in Norway

Now fully back in training, Lisa Vittozzi will return to racing in August. Her comeback will take place in Norway, where she will be the only Italian biathlete competing in the prestigious Blink Summer Ski Festival in Sandnes.

There, she will face most of the Norwegian national team, two of France’s top biathletes, the entire Polish national team, and parts of the German team.

In total, biathletes from seven national teams are registered for the Blink Festival. In cross-country skiing, athletes from 16 national teams will participate. Altogether, athletes from 20 national teams and 10 of the top Ski Classics Pro Teams will gather in Sandnes this year.

Injury nightmare

The Italian, who won the overall World Cup in 2024, missed the entire last season. Back problems caused her to skip the season opener and the first part of the winter, and before Christmas, she realized the whole season would be lost.

Now she is ready for a comeback, but outside the national team.

The Italian Biathlon Association is planning its final training camp in Vuokatti, Finland, starting on October 21, before heading to the Norwegian national season opener in Geilo on November 15–16. The obvious highlight remains the Winter Olympics on home soil in Italy in February 2026.

Also Read: Italian biathlon teams for season 2025/2026

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