Vittozzi: “Last year I thought about retiring. Now I’m after more medals”

Lisa Vittozzi on Bruno Vespa: “Last year I thought about retiring. Now I’m after more medals”

MILAN — “Last year I thought about retiring.” Interviewed by Bruno Vespa on Rai Uno during the program Cinque Minuti, Lisa Vittozzi — who won Italy’s first Olympic gold in biathlon at these Games — recalled the darkest moments before her Olympic triumph: “If I’m here today it’s thanks to my tenacity, because I never stopped believing in myself and I managed to fulfil a dream: competing at a home Olympics doesn’t happen every day and I’m really happy to have brought this gold to Italy, especially thanks to the whole staff who helped me deliver a perfect race.”

Vittozzi became emotional when she talked about her grandparents, Sergio and Lea, to whom she dedicated the victory: “Remembering them brings emotion. I always carry them with me; I think they were watching me yesterday...”.

She will still compete once more in the coming days: “I’ll race the women’s relay the day after tomorrow and the mass start on Saturday. We have chances in both events; the relay can have a say. We are not the favourites, but we believe. There are still many opportunities for medals.”

Video: “She’s destined!” — Lisa Vittozzi wins gold and dances before the finish

Video: Vittozzi: “I looked at Brignone before the race. When I won I told her that…”

Read also: The biathlon relay, team pursuit, two‑man bobsleigh: today’s final programme

Read also: Giacomel and Hofer, Hofer, Ghiotto, Baumgartner and Mircea... All the Italians racing today

— La Gazzetta dello Sport