Sanfilippo's new beginning: “Now I'm fine again”

Two weeks ago, the woman from Ridnaun announced her retirement from biathlon after she was not considered for the World Cup in Antholz and therefore lost her chance at the World Cup. It was the end of two years full of setbacks. In 2 she was excluded from the national team and was unable to return.

“I am disappointed with how I was treated as a person,” she criticized various association decisions. Stones were placed in the way. Many stones. “The last few weeks after the decision were also difficult. Now I'm feeling good again, also mentally. “I want to concentrate fully on cross-country skiing now,” she emphasizes in an interview with s+.

Olympics 2026 an issue? The 32-year-old from Ridnaun knows: “It would be a shame to throw everything over now. I've been training well recently and feel physically fit." But she doesn't want to think about her cross-country skiing future for the time being, not even with a view to the next few years or even the 2026 Olympics. “That's all still a long way away. I think from week to week, I try to give it my all from race to race. “First of all, I’m glad that I’m feeling well again, the last few weeks have taken a lot of energy,” she reflects.

<a data-caption="Federica Sanfilippo (Bildmitte) beim Sprint in Livigno zwischen den beiden Norwegerinnen Elena Rise Johnson (links) und Hedda Oestberg Amundsen. © pentaphoto" data-fancybox="inline-145403" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2023/02/federica-sanfilippo-bildmitte-beim-sprint-in-livigno-zwischen-den-beiden-norwegerinnen-elena-rise-johnson-links-und-hedda-oestberg-amundsen.jpg"> Federica Sanfilippo (center) during the sprint in Livigno between the two Norwegians Elena Rise Johnson (left) and Hedda Oestberg Amundsen. © pentaphoto

Next weekend in Toblach, Sanfilippo is expected to compete in all three races. The freestyle sprint starts on Friday. Here she made it to the quarter-finals in her World Cup debut in cross-country skiing at the end of last year in Val Müstair and also in Livigno 10 days ago. “That’s the goal this time too, the semi-finals would be nice,” says the woman from Ridnaun expectantly. She is particularly excited about the race on Saturday. Then there will be a freestyle individual start over 10 kilometers. “The knockout sprint is probably better for me, but I'm looking forward to seeing where I stand in a 10-kilometer race,” she emphasizes. She is also expected to take part in the relay race on Sunday.

Nöckler and Hellweger were also there On Sunday, Dietmar Nöckler will also take part in the home World Cup. The veteran from Bruneck has secured the starting place in the azure men's relay and will concentrate entirely on this one race. Michael Hellweger is the third South Tyrolean to take part in Hochpustertal. The Sarner sprint specialist will only take part in the race on Friday. His minimum goal is to reach the quarter-finals of the best 30, which is now practically mandatory for him. Sooner or later the 26-year-old wants to make it to the semi-finals. The best place is in Dobbiaco.

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Sanfilippo's new beginning: “Now I'm fine again”

Everything is prepared for the cross-country skiing World Cup in Dobbiaco. Three local athletes are also there: Michael Hellweger, Dietmar Nöckler and Federica Sanfilippo, who wants to attack again after difficult weeks and draw attention to themselves with strong results.

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