Lisa Vittozzi at CONI. The biathlon star was welcomed by President Giovanni Malagò in the Sala delle Fiaccole for the presentation of the Collare d'Oro al Merito Sportivo (Golden Collar for Sporting Merit),  the highest honour in Italian sport.

This marks the second time the Azzurra has received the award, having first earned it in 2023 following her gold medal in the relay at the World Championships in Oberhof (Germany) alongside Hannah Auchentaller, Samuela Comola, and Dorothea Wierer. She was honoured again this year after her individual world title in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic).

“The streak continues,” declared President Malagò as he presented the accolade to the 30-year-old from Sappada, whose impressive career also includes an Olympic bronze in the mixed relay at PyeongChang 2018 (with Dorothea Wierer, Lukas Hofer, and Dominik Windisch), six World Championship silvers, four bronzes, four World Cup discipline titles (three in individual, one in pursuit), and victory in the overall World Cup standings in 2024.