The Olympics at home and the objectives of the Italian expedition: the dream edition of Lillehammer 1994 is in the sights
Twenty Italian medals, like at the record-breaking Olympics in Lillehammer 1994, when however there were 61 races, compared to 116 in Milan Cortina. The ItaliaTeam’s objective is ambitious, but within the reach of an Italian selection which for many, even among the experts, is considered the strongest ever, ready to make the “field factor” count as it did twenty years ago in Turin. From Arianna Fontana to Federico Pellegrino, passing through Sofia Goggia and Michela Moioli: the names are known and ready to write new pages in the history of Italian sport.
friendly track
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Let’s start with alpine skiing. For Dominik Paris and Sofia Goggia, the respective competition fields of Bormio and Cortina have long been their favorites in terms of number of victories. The 36-year-old from Val d’Ultimo has conquered six downhill runs and a super-G on the Stelvio slope, while the 33-year-old from Bergamo has already achieved a poker of victories, also on the downhill, on Olimpia delle Tofane. Both went to the podium in the last stage of the World Cup and represent the most concrete hope of a medal at the Games. A friendly track could also be that of the Forum of Assago, where Arianna Fontana will hunt for the twelfth Olympic podium in the short track, symbol of a team that has another excellent medal card in Pietro Sighel. At Rho Fiera, on the long track, the world champions Davide Ghiotto (10,000), Andrea Giovannini (Mass Start), then together in the team pursuit trio, as well as Francesca Lollobrigida (Mass Start) have excellent chances of getting on the podium.
boards and stunts
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Even in Livigno there are many ambitions, starting with snowboarding. Michela Moioli, the historic first Italian gold medal at PyeongChang 2018, knows this well and dreams of the feat after returning to the world top, also in the mixed with Lorenzo Sommariva. The 45-year-old Roland Fischnaller, in his seventh Olympics, is instead the symbol of a team that could dominate the parallel giant with Bormolini, Felicelli and March. The 18-year-old Flora Tabanelli plans to land in the Empyrean, having recovered at the last minute from a bothersome knee injury. If he is well, he can confirm the Big Air world title. Simone Deromedis and Jole Galli – who will fight on home snow – are also fresh from victory in the World Cup and could really do wonders. Like the 27-year-old Giulia Murada from Valtellina, who arrives at the Games with three podiums in three sprints: a medal to introduce ski mountaineering would be the best.
in the sights
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Dorothea Wierer’s last performance takes place in Anterselva: with Lisa Vittozzi they will try to focus on precision in the sprint and in the biathlon pursuit, the same terrain as Tommaso Giacomel who in the middle of a season as an absolute protagonist could achieve the most important result of his career. In Cortina, the Olympic and world mixed doubles champions Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner will try to hit the mark again in curling, after their historic feat in Beijing 2022. The Italian standard-bearer will also play his chances with the team. Federico Pellegrino also deserves a mention in the background, having reached the last important appointment of his career. The dream is a medal to celebrate as a couple, perhaps in the free technique Sprint team with Elia Barp after the excellent performances in the Cup.
what a team
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And speaking of teams, in addition to the aforementioned mixed pairs of snowboarding and curling, pay attention to what the blue relays will be able to do, such as the mixed and men’s short track ones with the contribution of Thomas Nadalini and those of the biathlon, enriched by the presence of the two-time Olympic bronze medalist Lukas Hofer. The challenge, once again, will be with France and Norway. Finally, in cross-country, the 4×7.5 kilometer relay is perhaps the race that the Azzurri have prepared most scrupulously. More than a dream – the bookmakers also underline this – that of Italy is a great possibility that passes primarily through alpine skiing: if Paris in the descent on February 7th and Goggia the next day start off on the right foot, then the rest of the expedition too… and Lillehammer’s record, at that point, after thirty-two years could really have its days numbered.
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