Lisa Vittozzi has reached the goal of her dreams. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK

Overall World Cup victory! Lisa Vittozzi conquers the biathlon throne

It was a thriller right up to the end, but since Sunday it has been clear: Lisa Vittozzi will win the overall World Cup in biathlon for the first time in her career!

March 17, 2024

From: det

When Lisa Vittozzi ran towards the finish line in the last biathlon race of the season in Canmore (Canada), she had tears in her eyes and at the same time a beaming smile on her face. The 29-year-old from Sappada/Plodn knew that the big crystal ball for the overall World Cup would be moving into her living room for the first time. Vittozzi has fulfilled a dream and is only the second Azzurra to achieve this feat. Previously, only Dorothea Wierer had achieved this, securing the coveted crystal in 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Wierer and Vittozzi – that’s a good keyword. When the South Tyrolean biathlon queen won her first big ball in 2018/19, she did so in a nerve-wracking duel against her teammate Vittozzi. After losing the duel, she fell into a deep hole and was stuck in misery for years. It was only last season that the Italian was able to regain her composure before she exploded this winter. At the World Championships in Nove Mesto, Vittozzi won four medals, including the first individual gold medal of her career.

Lisa Vittozzi is the best biathlete of the season. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK

Now comes the greatest success of her career with the overall World Cup. Vittozzi had been competing with the best biathletes all season long, but she managed to pull off the lucky punch at the World Cup finals in Canmore. With her victories in the sprint and pursuit, Vittozzi catapulted herself to the top of the rankings and was 61 points ahead of the competition before the final mass start on Sunday.

She showed nerves, but it didn't matter

Although Vittozzi showed nerves, had to go into the penalty loop five times and achieved her worst result of the season with 21st place, in the end it was enough for victory in the overall standings. Also because her worst opponent Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold didn't get past 8th place.

Lisa Vittozzi's season has come to an outstanding end. In addition to the four World Cup medals and the overall World Cup, the 29-year-old also grabbed the small crystal balls in the individual and pursuit. Almost nothing more is possible.

Lou Jeanmonnot won the final women's race of the season. © APA/afp / ISAAC HALE

The victory in the mass start on Sunday was won by Frenchwoman Lou Jeanmonnot, who prevailed against German Janina Hettich-Walz and compatriot Gilonne Guigonnat. There was no South Tyrolean in the mass start. Rebecca Passler and Hannah Auchentaller missed qualification, Dorothea Wierer ended her season early after the World Cup in the Czech Republic. This marks the end of the women’s biathlon season.

Final standings in the Biathlon World Cup

Women's mass start in Canmore (Canada)