Lisa Vittozzi has a completely new perspective on sporting events.

Lisa Vittozzi shows her feelings: “Finally I can breathe”

Lisa Vittozzi was the world's best biathlete last winter, winning crystal globes, World Championship medals and World Cup victories. Now she speaks openly in an interview with SportNews about what these successes have done to her. The result is a conversation that gives a deep insight into her emotional world.

04 October 2024

“It is amazing what Lisa is doing for training times,” said Italy’s biathlon boss Klaus Höllrigl, who gave this background information to the SportNews-Editors were on the way when they met with the individual world champion and overall World Cup winner of the past season on the sidelines of the preseason preparation at the Lavazèjoch. Lisa Vittozzi appeared in a good mood for the interview - and not just because of the latest training results.

You are currently impressing coaches and officials with your good training performances. Are you ready for the World Cup winter?

"It's still eight weeks until the World Cup starts. But I'm trying to be in top form right away. A good performance at the beginning gives me confidence and at the same time takes some of the pressure off me. That worked well last season. The difficulty is to then be consistent throughout the entire winter. That has to be the goal."


Speaking of pressure: Will you be completely relaxed after the many successes last season?

"Yes, last winter I shed a lot of baggage. That was good. In the past I thought a lot, tinkered around a lot and put myself under pressure. Now I feel liberated. But that doesn't mean that my hunger for success has been satisfied, on the contrary! The victories make me want more."

Lisa Vittozzi won three crystal globes and four World Championship medals last winter.

Have the World Champion title and winning the Crystal Globe changed you?

"No, I'm still the same Lisa as before. But I've changed my way of thinking and my approach to this sport a bit. At the end of last season, I was able to breathe deeply for the first time in my career. It really felt like I was finally getting some air. A real release. At the same time, however, it wasn't so easy to find new motivation straight away."


How did you find the new drive?

"By moving away from thinking about results. I try to compete less with others and focus more on results and rankings. I have started to focus solely on myself, to have a little battle with myself - with the aim of improving myself further."


It should still feel good to go into the season as the big hunted ones for the first time?

"Of course, I'm proud to go through the winter as the reigning overall World Cup winner. But I'm not setting myself the goal of defending the globe. Then the issue of pressure would come into play again, and I want to avoid that. I don't want to defend anything, I just want to keep improving."

“The urge to win almost became an obsession for me” Lisa Vittozzi

That sounds very modest. Haven't you set yourself a clear goal?

"The urge to win, to show everyone, has been so great in recent years that it has almost become an obsession. I can now leave that behind me. Nevertheless, I have set myself sporting goals: I want to fight for the top places in the World Cup again and then travel to the World Championships in top form."


So is the World Cup in February your primary goal?

“Yes, exactly! The championships are the absolute highlight of this season for me.”

Lisa Vittozzi won her long-awaited first World Championship gold in Nove Mesto in February. © Pierre Teyssot / Pentaphoto

You will be Italy's great hope. Does this spotlight bother you?

"To be honest: A little bit. In my private life, it is not noticeable, not much has changed in the last few years. But media interest has increased significantly, expectations have risen. I know that's part of it and there are also very positive aspects to it. But actually, I'm someone who likes things a little quieter."

“I try not to attract too much attention and to withdraw sometimes.” Lisa Vittozzi

So you enjoyed being in Dorothea Wierer’s shadow for a long time?

"I like to draw attention to myself in sports. The moment when you stand on the podium is a very special one. I enjoy being in the spotlight. Otherwise, I try not to attract too much attention or even to withdraw sometimes. That's why it's okay for me if other athletes are in the spotlight."


At the same time, however, you are seen as someone who expresses their opinion. This is what happened with the new rule on the starting order.

"If I don't agree with something, I say so. When it comes to the starting rules, there is a sensible ulterior motive, but the athletes' opinions are not heard. After all, we were almost unanimously against this change. That is a problem for me."


In the future, top athletes will start racing much later in sprints and individual races.

"Exactly, that's a radical change. It's supposed to make these races more attractive for TV. However, there are side effects that, in my opinion, have not been taken into account. Are there enough warm-up stretches? What will happen to the cross-country ski trails? Will races or the World Cup rankings be distorted as a result? I see this change as the biggest challenge for me personally in the coming season. We need to find new, suitable preparation immediately before the races."