Dorothea Wierer said yes: 'See you in Milano Cortina 2026'

The Italian biathlon star, winner of 2 World Cups, 3 Olympic medals and 12 world podiums, will be at the Olympics, in Antholz, her hometown

Antholz is ready to embrace Dorothea Wierer. The announcement that everyone was waiting for has arrived: the Italian biathlon star has confirmed her intention to extend her career for another two winters, and thus to compete in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in the valley where she was born.

Dorothea and Antholz

The endless love between Antholz and Dorothea began in 2007, when she was not even 17 years old, and was a World Cup forerunner. In the South Tyrol resort, which will host the Olympic biathlon competitions from 6 to 22 February 2026, the 34-year-old, member of the Fiamme Gialle (Italian Tax Police sports section), went on to win three World Cups (2019, 2022 and 2023), interspersed with four medals (two golds and two silvers) at the 2020 World Championships, which consecrated her on a planetary scale.

In her career, Doro boasts three bronze medals at the Olympics. She won the first two in the medley relays at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, followed by the individual podium at Beijing 2022 in the sprint race. In Zhangjiakou, on 18 February 2022, she had everyone think that mass start might be her last Olympic appearance, however the thrill of competing on the snow she grew up on, convinced her to pursue her fourth Olympic adventure.

Milano Cortina 2026

Two World Cups, three Olympic medals, twelve-time medallist at the World Championships: the fans' hope of collecting some more is real. 'I had time to think about myself and understand whether I still cultivate the motivation within me to remain a top athlete. In the end, I realised that it would be a shame to end such an important part of my life this way, after winning and being a protagonist for so many years,' she said. 'So I spoke with President Flavio Roda and our technical staff, and we realised that there is a will to continue until the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. We have planned a summer preparation that will start already in these days, with my usual working group, in order to venture down the path that will help me reach the Olympic appointment in a competitive, medal-winning mood'.