Milan

After withdrawing mid-race due to health concerns, Italian Olympic biathlete Tommaso Giacomel underwent what doctors described as a successful minor heart surgery. 

The 25-year-old was leading the 15-kilometer race on Friday when he began experiencing breathing difficulties. Medical evaluations revealed an electrical conduction abnormality in his atrium. Following an electrophysiological study at Galeazzi Hospital in Milan, Giacomel underwent surgery to correct the irregular heartbeat. 

Earlier in the week, Giacomel had secured a silver medal with Team Italy, making the abrupt end to his race — and potentially the rest of his season — especially difficult. 

“I tried to ski really slow the first part of the third lap but my body wasn’t allowing me to ski anymore,” Giacomel said. “A lot is going through my head at the moment — frustration, anger, disappointment — it’s devastating. It’s devastating to stop, but there wasn’t anything I could do against my own body today.”

Giacomel is expected to be discharged on Thursday and will undergo additional testing in the coming weeks to determine when he can safely return to full training. 

Paris 

Achraf Hakimi, a defender for Paris Saint-Germain, has been ordered to stand trial after being charged with rape in March 2023.

The allegations were first raised in February 2023 by a 24-year-old woman who told authorities she was raped at Hakimi’s home in Paris. He was formally charged the following month. Under the French legal system, individuals can be placed under formal investigation before the court determines whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with trial.  

Hakimi has denied any wrongdoing. According to his legal team, the accuser obstructed parts of the investigation by refusing access to her phone, declining to identify certain witnesses and not consenting to DNA testing.

“Today, an accusation of rape is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything shows that it is false,” Hakimi said. “This is as unjust for the innocent as it is for genuine victims.” 

Despite the charges, Hakimi continues to play for PSG and has received public backing from the club. In a statement, the organization emphasized its trust in the legal process. 

“The club supports the player, who has firmly denied the accusations and trusts the justice system,” PSG wrote in a statement. “Paris Saint-Germain is an institution that promotes respect on and off the pitch.”

Washington, D.C. 

The U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team visited the White House on Tuesday after a weekend filled with controversy to celebrate its first gold medal victory since the iconic “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

The visit followed backlash over a locker room phone call with President Donald Trump that was shared publicly. In the video, Trump told the team, “I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team — you do know that,” adding that if he did not, he “would probably be impeached.” The remark was met with laughter from several players, sparking criticism online. 

The women’s team declined their invite to the White House after they had also just defeated Canada to win Olympic gold. The victory marked the program’s third Olympic gold medal and added to its long history of podium finishes since women’s hockey was introduced to the Games. 

“I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and unfortunately, that is overshadowing a lot of the success — the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats,” Team USA captain Hilary Knight said.

In the days after the video circulated, players addressed the reaction. 

“We should’ve reacted differently,” Team USA and Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman said. “We are so excited for the women’s team and we have so much respect for the women’s team — to share that gold medal with them is something that we will forever be grateful for.”

Despite the contention, the men’s team — minus five roster members — spent time in the Oval Office posing for photos with the president and their medals and later attended the State of the Union address. The team was also served a celebratory McDonald’s meal during their visit.

Contact Emily Barbire at [email protected].