Koukalova world champion for the first time - Vittozzi and Sanfilippo sensational

It was not Dorothea Wierer and Alexia Runggaldier, who were so convincing in the World Cup recently, but the two blatant outsiders Lisa Vittozzi and Federica Sanfilippo who put on the big show for the Italian team at the World Cup in Tyrol on Friday. Sanfilippo shocked the entire competition with a flawless performance at the shooting range and a very strong performance on the cross-country ski trail. She completed the 7,5 kilometer sprint distance in 19:01,7 minutes and catapulted herself close to the podium. She stayed in the top three for a long time, but slipped to fifth place towards the end. With this surprising appearance, the 3-year-old from Ridnaun Valley recorded by far her best World Cup result. Vittozzi's performance was just as unexpected as Sanfilippo's fifth place. The biathlete from Belluno also didn't miss a single shot and finished fourth in the rankings, just ahead of the South Tyrolean. Only the exceptional athletes Gabriela Koukalova, Laura Dahlmeier and Anais Chevalier were better than the two Azzurre. All three remained flawless at the shooting range, although the Czech woman had significantly more to offer on the cross-country ski trail than her competitors. She secured her first individual World Championship title with a lead of four seconds over Dahlmeier. Chevalier took third place. Wierer missed out on a top ranking The first women's competition at this World Championships didn't go entirely according to plan for Wierer and Runggaldier. The medal candidate from Niederrasen missed twice in the prone shooting and had to settle for 21st place in the end. The same thing happened to the woman from Val Gardena, who also had two missed shots. She finished in 43rd place. On Saturday the racing program in Hochfilzen continues with the men's sprint. Results Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen (AUT): Sprint women (7,5 km) 1. Gabriela Koukalova (CZE) 19:12,6 minutes (0 misses) 2. Laura Dahlmeier (GER) +4,0 (0) 3. Anais Chevalier (FRA) +25,1 (0) 4. Lisa Vittozzi (ITA) +25,3 (0) 5. Federica Sanfilippo (ITA/Ridnaun) +31,9 (0) 6. Vanessa Hinz (GER) +37,9 (0) 7. Marie Dorin Habert (FRA) +42,8 (1) 8. Anastasiya Kuzmina (SVK) +44,0 (1) 9. Célia Aymonier (FRA) +53,9 (1) 10. Anastasiya Merkushyna (UKR) +55,3 (0) ... 21. Dorothea Wierer (ITA/turf) +1:14,2 (2) 43. Alexia Runggaldier (ITA/St. Christina) +1:49,8 (2) SN/Alexander Foppa

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Koukalova world champion for the first time - Vittozzi and Sanfilippo sensational

Gabriela Koukalova won the first Czech World Cup individual gold in biathlon history in the sprint in Hochfilzen. The performance of the two Azzurres, who narrowly missed winning a medal, was also historic.

Suggestions

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Koukalova world champion for the first time - Vittozzi and Sanfilippo sensational

Gabriela Koukalova won the first Czech World Cup individual gold in biathlon history in the sprint in Hochfilzen. The performance of the two Azzurres, who narrowly missed winning a medal, was also historic.

More on this topic

This is what “Fedi” and her teammates say before the individual

Sanfilippo: “I briefly speculated about a medal”

Suggestions