Tommaso Giacomel, an Italian biathlete, had to withdraw from the Milano Cortina Olympics due to health concerns, despite showing promising performances in the current season. During a mass start race, he was leading but ultimately stepped back for medical reasons. Following this incident, the Italian Ski Federation announced that he underwent a series of tests at Galeazzi Hospital in Milan, including CT scans and MRIs, all of which returned normal results.

However, further examinations revealed a conduction disorder of electrical impulses in Giacomel's heart. As a result, he underwent a successful cardiac ablation procedure, which is aimed at correcting the heart's electrical system. It was confirmed by the ski federation that the operation went well, and he is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.

Two weeks after the procedure, Giacomel will have additional follow-up tests to ensure his heart is functioning correctly. His situation highlights the importance of athlete health and the challenges they face when balancing their sporting commitments with medical needs, especially in high-pressure environments like the Olympics.