World Championships: Historic Silver for Giacomel in the Individual; Only Zingerle Won Gold in 1993 in the 20 km

At the 2025 Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, Italian athlete Tommaso Giacomel delivered a memorable performance in the 20 km Individual event. This race, considered one of the most demanding due to its four shooting bouts and heavy time penalties for missed targets, proved to be the stage for Giacomel’s breakthrough. After a strong skiing performance and just one error in the final shooting stage, he finished 52.8 seconds behind the winner, the Frenchman Perrot, and secured the silver medal.

This result is historic for Italy; it is the first individual medal at the World Championships since Andreas Zingerle’s gold medal in 1993. Giacomel, who had previously celebrated his first World Cup win at the age of 24, has now reached the podium at the world level in an event where precision is crucial—each missed shot carries a penalty of one minute.

The article also notes that Giacomel’s success comes at a time when the Italian biathlon team is facing challenges, including the ongoing season-long absence of Lisa Vittozzi and health concerns for Dorothea Wierer. Adding to the Italian success, compatriot Fillon Mallet completed the podium with a bronze medal, finishing 1 minute 59.5 seconds behind Perrot. The narrative conveys Giacomel’s satisfaction with his performance and his optimism for future races, emphasizing the dedication and hard work that led to his well-deserved achievement.

Other Italian biathletes also participated, though with less success, as competitors like Norway’s Johannes Boe, hindered by multiple shooting errors, missed out on a medal. Giacomel’s medal is celebrated as a significant milestone for the Italian biathlon team, reaffirming their presence on the international stage.