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Lisa Vittozzi: No comeback in Oberhof – back problems continue to bother her!
Lisa Vittozzi, biathlon World Cup winner, is opting out of the season due to back problems. Planned return to Ruhpolding.
Lisa Vittozzi: No comeback in Oberhof – back problems continue to bother her!
The biathlon world has suffered a bitter setback: Lisa Vittozzi, the surprise winner of the last World Cup, will no longer be able to set foot in the competition arenas this season. As the Italian Biathlon Federation confirmed on Wednesday, the 29-year-old athlete has to forego her return due to long-term back problems and will therefore miss the upcoming World Championships in Lenzerheide in February. This news not only causes disappointment among fans, but also casts a shadow over the Italian biathlon team, which loses importance without its exceptional athlete. The entire winter season has so far gone without competition for Vittozzi, which makes defending her title from last year's successes impossible krone.at reported.
The back pain that has plagued Vittozzi since the start of the season forced her to take a break. She will also not take part in the World Cup weekend in Oberhof, which represents a further setback in an already challenging season. Her coach Klaus Höllrigl expressed concern about the situation: "Lisa is still feeling her back injury and has to miss training regularly. She just lacks form," Höllrigl continued, adding that a return is now planned for Ruhpolding, where Vittozzi is hoping for her recovery and should work on her training. The uncertainty about the severity of her injury is not only a burden on the athlete herself, but also on the entire team, which is currently without one of its strongest runners, reports tz.de.
This is particularly painful for many sports fans because Vittozzi put in outstanding performances last year, including individual gold and three silver medals at the European Championships. The Italian biathlon fan scene was waiting for the athlete to return, but the reality is different. Her recovery efforts continue and it remains to be seen whether she can return to the World Cup in time to recapture her sparkling form from last season.