Michela Ponza of Italy competes during the women's 15 km individual race at the IBU Biathlon World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, March 9, 2011.

Italy's Michela Ponza competes during the IBU World Cup Biathlon Women's 7.5km Sprint February 4, 2011 in Presque Isle, Maine.

Italy's Michela Ponza competes during the IBU World Cup Biathlon Women's 7.5km Sprint February 4, 2011 in Presque Isle, Maine.

OSTERSUND, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 01: Michaela Ponza of Italy during a training session ahead of the E.ON Ruhrgas IBU Biathlon World Cup on December 1, 2009 in Ostersund, Sweden.

OSTERSUND, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 02: Michaela Ponza of Italy poses during the flower ceremony after she reaches the seventh place in Women's 15 km Individual event of the E.ON Ruhrgas IBU Biathlon World Cup on December 2, 2009 in Ostersund, Sweden.

Italian Michela Ponza (L), winner German Magdalena Neuner (C) and, French Marie Dorin (R), jubilate on the podium after the World Cup biathlon women's 10 km pursuit event on March 28, 2009, at the ski stadium in the Siberian city of Khanty-Mansiysk.

Michela Ponza of Italy crosses the finish line to take second place during the women's 10 km pursuit at the Biathlon World Cup Final in the Siberian town of Khanty-Mansiysk, 2, 000 km (1, 243 miles) east of Moscow, March 28, 2009.

First place finisher Magdalena Neuner of Germany (C) celebrates with second placed Michela Ponza of Italy (L) and third placed Marie Dorin of France after the women's 10 km pursuit at the Biathlon World Cup Final in the Siberian town of Khanty-Mansiysk, 2, 000 km (1, 243 miles) east of Moscow, March 28, 2009.

Michela Ponza of Italy (L, back row) and Svetlana Sleptsova of Russia fall as they start the women's 4x6 km relay race at the IBU Biathlon World Championships in Pyeongchang, east of Seoul February 21, 2009.