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An Olympic athlete was forced to undergo heart surgery after pulling out of a race in Milan Cortina.
Italian ski athlete Tommaso Giacomel decided not to participate in the 15-kilometer mass start due to breathing problems.
“A subsequent electrophysiological examination revealed an atrial conduction abnormality which recommended a subsequent ablation, which has already been performed and was a complete success,” the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) announced on Tuesday.
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Tommaso Giacomel of Team Italy looks on before the men’s 15 km mass start on day 14 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at 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 scheduled checks in two weeks. Once completed, he will be cleared to return to regular training.”
Giacomel wrote on his Instagram story that he was “approved” that his season was “over”.
“I’m okay – if I can say I’m okay when I had to DNF 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 Olympics. (Hendrik Schmidt/image alliance via Getty Images)
“Right after the second incline, my body somehow stopped working properly and I was really struggling to breathe and to move, so I had to stop. The worst feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life so far. I tried to ski really slowly for the first part of the third lap, but my body wouldn’t allow me to ski anymore.
“A lot is going through my head at the moment… frustration, anger, disappointment… It’s devastating. It’s devastating to stop, but there was nothing I could do about my own body today. Definitely not the end of the fights I was hoping for, but I’ll never give up. 4 years flies fast and I want to try again in France. I’ll do some medical checks today to find out what went wrong today. you for the huge 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 the Anterselva Biathlon Arena on February 15, 2026 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. (Kevin Voigt/Getty Images)
Earlier in the Games, Giacomel earned a silver medal in the mixed relay. He has three other silver medals from World Championships and five victories in Biathalon World Cups.
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