Italian Federica Sanfilippo, 32, has been on the verge of the World Cup for some time and it was at the end of last week that she began to suspect that she would not be selected for this weekend's competitions in Antholz.

Once it was confirmed, it was the last straw.

She announced to the national team management that she is quitting biathlon and switching to cross-country skiing.

- After a sleepless night and a few tears, I announced my decision, she says.

Sanfilippo, who has been on the podium in the World Cup eight times, herself thinks she is in the Biathlon World Cup, but accepts the decision.

- These are not emotionally easy days, I think everyone understands that.

But I will try to throw myself out there and see how it goes, she says.

Already selected for the World Cup

The 32-year-old was in the freestyle sprint that opened the cross-country Tour de Ski in December and made it to the quarter-finals.

Now, by all accounts, a bet on just sprinting in cross-country skiing is waiting.

She is selected in the squad that will compete in Livigno already this weekend.

Italy's biggest biathlon star, Dorothea Wierer, takes Sanfilippo's side and criticizes the national team management.

"It is difficult to accept.

You don't deserve to be treated this way and you didn't get the chances you deserved.

The people in charge never liked you and so this was inevitable.

I'm sad and disappointed," she writes on Instagram and continues:

"Our dream was to compete in the home Olympics (2026) together and that will not happen now.

Our dream is shattered.”

SVT Sport has contacted the Italian national team management without an answer.

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Stina Nilsson is pushed into the relay team.

Photo: Bildbyrån