The Olympics on home turf and the goals of the Italian team: the dream edition of Lillehammer 1994 is in their sights

Twenty Italian medals, as at the record-breaking 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, when there were 61 events, compared to 116 in Milan-Cortina. The Italian team’s goal is ambitious, but within reach for a team that many, even experts, consider to be the strongest ever, ready to make the most of their home advantage, just like twenty years ago in Turin. From Arianna Fontana to Federico Pellegrino, Sofia Goggia, and Michela Moioli: these are well-known names, ready to write new pages in the history of Italian sport.

Let’s start with alpine skiing. For Dominik Paris and Sofia Goggia, the respective competition venues of Bormio and Cortina have long been their favorites in terms of number of victories. The 36-year-old from Val d’Ultimo has won six downhill races and one super-G on the Stelvio slope, while the 33-year-old from Bergamo has already racked up four victories, all in downhill, on the Olimpia delle Tofane slope. Both made it to the podium in the last stage of the World Cup and represent the most concrete hope for a medal at the Games. Another friendly track could be the Forum in Assago, where Arianna Fontana will be chasing her twelfth Olympic podium in short track, symbolizing a team that has another excellent medal contender in Pietro Sighel. At Rho Fiera, on the long track, world champions Davide Ghiotto (10,000), Andrea Giovannini (Mass Start), then together in the team pursuit trio, as well as Francesca Lollobrigida (Mass Start) have an excellent chance of reaching the podium.

Boards and acrobatics—  Livigno also has many ambitions, starting with snowboarding. Michela Moioli, Italy’s first gold medalist at PyeongChang 2018, knows this well. She dreams of repeating her feat after returning to the top of the world rankings, also in the mixed event with Lorenzo Sommariva. Forty-five-year-old Roland Fischnaller, competing in his seventh Olympics, is the symbol of a team that could dominate the parallel giant slalom with Bormolini, Felicelli, and March. Eighteen-year-old Flora Tabanelli, who recovered at the last minute from a nagging knee injury, hopes to reach the top. If she is feeling well, she can confirm her Big Air world title. Simone Deromedis and Jole Galli – who will be competing on home snow – are also fresh from World Cup victories and could really work wonders. As could 27-year-old Giulia Murada from Valtellina, who comes to the Games with three podiums in three sprints: a medal to mark the debut of ski mountaineering would be the icing on the cake.

In the spotlight—  Anterselva will host Dorothea Wierer’s final performance: together with Lisa Vittozzi, they will focus on precision in the sprint and pursuit biathlon events, the same terrain as Tommaso Giacomel, who, halfway through a season as an absolute protagonist, could achieve the most important result of his career. In Cortina, Olympic and world mixed doubles champions Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner will try to hit the mark again in curling, after their historic feat in Beijing 2022. Italy’s flag bearer will also be competing with the team. In cross-country skiing, Federico Pellegrino also deserves a mention, as he reaches the last important event of his career. The dream is to celebrate a medal as a pair, perhaps in the freestyle sprint team with Elia Barp after their excellent performances in the Cup. And speaking of teams, in addition to the aforementioned mixed snowboard and curling pairs, keep an eye on what the Italian relays can do, such as the mixed and men’s short track teams with the contribution of Thomas Nadalini and the biathlon teams, enhanced by the presence of two-time Olympic bronze medalist Lukas Hofer. Once again, the challenge will be with France and Norway. Finally, in cross-country skiing, the 4×7.5-kilometer relay is perhaps the race that the Italian team has prepared most meticulously. More than a dream—as the bookmakers also point out—Italy has a great chance, which depends primarily on alpine skiing: if Paris in the downhill on February 7 and Goggia the following day get off to a good start, then the rest of the team… and the Lillehammer record, at that point, after thirty-two years, could really have its days numbered.