Giacomel has heart surgery after Olympics withdrawal

Italian biathlete Tommaso Giacomel has had successful minor heart surgery after he dropped out when leading the Winter Olympic 15km mass start event.

Giacomel, who won mixed relay silver at the Milan-Cortina Games, had to stop during the 15km race as he struggled with breathing and movement problems.

He must rest for two weeks after being found to have an electrical conduction anomaly in one of his heart atria.

Giacomel, 25, had minor ablation surgery - a procedure used to treat irregular heart rhythms.

The surgery "has already been performed and was a complete success", the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) said.

Giacomel wrote on Instagram on Tuesday: "My season is over. Gutted."

He said it was "devastating" to have to drop out of the Olympic race as he recounted what had happened to him during the event in a social media post last Friday.

"Right after the second prone shooting, my body somehow stopped functioning normally and I was really struggling to breathe and move, so I had to stop," said Giacomel.

"It was the worst feeling I've ever had. I tried to ski really slowly at the start of the third lap, but my body wouldn't let me."

The FISI said Giacomel would be discharged on Thursday morning but would have further checks in two weeks.

Should he pass those checks, Giacomel will be able to return to regular training.

But his recovery timeframe means he would miss the next stage of the World Cup in Kontiolahti, Finland.

Having won four individual World Cup races this season, Giacomel is second in the overall standings, 37 points behind French leader Eric Perrot.