Annie Lind: The Interview!

Annie Lind is a Swedish biathlete from Jönköping, born on 9 April 1997. Representing IF Hallby, she made her international biathlon debut at the 2017 Junior World Championships before becoming a regular competitor on the IBU Cup circuit. Lind made her World Cup debut in January 2022 in Antholz, competing in the relay, and recorded a career-best World Cup finish of 49th in the Short Individual in Nove Mesto in 2026.

Last season, Lind secured her first IBU Cup podium with a second-place finish in the sprint in Lake Placid. More recently, she continued her strong form by winning one of the two summer races at the Baltic Cup in Estonia and finishing second in the other.

Follow Annie on Instagram: annieliindh

Why did you become a biathlete?

The reason I started biathlon was a coincidence, I got a note on our car with the information of a biathlon training camp in Torsby when I was 13 years old. I was on that camp two years in a row and then when it was time for searching for a gymansium ( sports high school) I chose biathlon and then I have just continued. 

Was there a specific moment, race or result when you first realized that you were good enough to become a professional athlete?

I don’t think so, I have always practiced biathlon just for fun and believed that I can compete on the highest level with good training and discipline. It is more now later on that I have realized that I actually can compete on the highest level with good training and good people around me and of course the results in the IBU Cup have been proof that I’m not so far off.

You got your first IBU Cup podium last season in Lake Placid. What do you remember about the race and what were your emotions at the end?

It was a good race and I felt good both in my shooting and on my skis, but of course on that last lap when I heard that I was in a good position I knew that this last lap will hurt everywhere. After the finish line I felt FINALLY it was my turn to do a good result and be on the podium and all the hard work did pay off. It was a moment of pride.

How do you assess last season overall? What were you happy with and were there any disappointing things?

I’m proud of my season, I competed in the World Cup and did my best overall result in the IBU Cup. I am proud of how I managed to shift my mindset after a poor competition/performance and turn the next one into a good one. 

What are your goals for this season?

I want to compete in the World Cup more. It is hard to take a spot on the Swedish team in the World Cup but I want to try. 

What are your strengths in biathlon? What do you need to improve?

I think my standing shooting is good and I want to improve my speed on the skis a bit more and have a higher hitting percent in prone.

You have been a biathlete since 2013. What keeps you motivated to keep racing and to get out of bed each morning to train?

I want to see how good I can be and don’t want to quit before I feel that I have tried what I want to do in my training to be better.

What are your hobbies?

I like the summer and being outside both in the forest and on the water. I like to be at the West coast in Sweden and be on the boat, fish and eat good food with my family and friends.

What are three essential things you pack in your suitcase when you are travelling? (not biathlon things)

Licorice candy ( extra salty candy ) because you can’t get it outside of Sweden, my computer and headphones. 

Do you have a favourite biathlon track? Where is it and why?

I like Osrblie in Slovakia because they have nice uphills and fast tracks on the way back to the stadium. Also Antholtz in Italy has fun tracks, but I like almost every track I have visitied so far.

Who is your favourite biathlete (past or present) and why?

Martin Fourcade and Johannes Thingnes Bö. Martin because he was so good to just do what he needed to do to take the win. If it was to hit all the 20 targets he did it and if he needed to ski fast he did.

Johannes because his humble way of looking at the difficulty in biathlon and not to be cocky even if he has won everything there is to win.

Describe yourself in three words.

Optimistic, stubborn and kind.

Have you ever?

• arrived late for a race? Not that I can remember
• cross fired in a race? Not so far
• arrived on the wrong lane? Not so far
• jumped the start? Not so far
• gone to shoot prone instead of standing or vice versa? Not so far
• forgotten to do a penalty loop? Maybe, I don’t remember!
• gone the wrong way on the course? Don’t think so
• forgotten something before a race? (eg. rifle, magazine,poles,glasses) Poles, I realised it when I was just going to walk to the startline in Obertilliach and had to ask my friend to run for my poles and just 5 seconds before my start I got my poles and raced with my own poles.
• taken someone else’s equipment by mistake? Don’t think so
• asked another biathlete for an autograph or photo? Yes a few, Ole Einar Björndalen and Lou Jeanmonnot.

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Graham Benson: The Interview!

Graham Benson is a British biathlete born on 13 October 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. He discovered biathlon at the age of eight and began competing with Sea to Sky Nordics before joining the Whistler Nordic Development Centre. He competed for Great Britain in the Youth Olympics in 2024, and last season raced on the Junior and IBU Cup circuits before making his World Cup debut in Oberhof, competing in the sprint and finishing 95th. His progression from the Canadian junior circuit to the international stage has established him as one of Britain’s emerging young talents.

Follow Graham on Instagram: grahamb.06

Why did you become a biathlete?

I became a biathlete largely due to my parents. They first experienced biathlon when the 2010 Winter Games came to my hometown of Vancouver. My dad has always enjoyed cross-country skiing and thought, what better way to get his kids excited about it than to introduce firearms!

You are from Canada, so how did you end up competing for Great Britain?

I can compete for Great Britain because my dad was born in England and lived there until his family moved to Canada when he was around 12. A few years ago we went through the process of getting British passports for my siblings and me.

It’s not easy competing for a smaller nation. How are you funded, and are there any advantages to being in a smaller team?

Competing for a smaller nation definitely offers its challenges; I am partially self-funded with help from my parents and certain grants made possible by the BBU and IBU. The IBU offers lots of support to smaller nations through equipment, camps, and coach development. Being part of a small team absolutely has some advantages; we are able to create a good team environment. This makes what is for the most part an individual sport have that team aspect, which is really beneficial for staying motivated and pushing each other.

You made your World Cup debut last season. What was that experience like?

I got the call letting me know I’d get to race while I was in the airport heading home for Christmas, as the first trimester of racing had concluded. Getting back to Europe so soon was a bit chaotic due to cancelled flights and other complications. In the end I arrived in Oberhof with just over a day until the races started. I told myself to just take it all in and enjoy this experience. The race was the 10 km sprint, and I managed to hit 9/10 on the shooting range and skied pretty well, all things considered. I won’t forget the noise that the Oberhof crowd made anytime soon!

You had some really good results last season and competed in junior, IBU, and World Cup races, but do you have a favourite or stand out result?

There were a few races I was quite pleased with last year. In the first sprint of the year on the Junior Cup in Goms, Switzerland, I managed 25th. This was a huge jump from my previous personal best (59th) and also my first time in the points! However, the race I was most proud of was a 14th place in a sprint race in Madona, Latvia, during the third stop on the Junior Cup. This whole week I felt much better and much more competitive compared to the field.

How do you assess last season overall? What aspects of it made you happy, and were there any disappointments?

Last season was a huge success overall; it was awesome to make my World Cup debut and see what the top level of racing really looks like. The junior season went really well; achieving a decent placement in the overall standings was considerable progress over the last few years when I wasn’t scoring any points. The only event I considered disappointing was the Junior World Championships in Arber, Germany. We dealt with warm and soft snow conditions, which made the racing much more physically demanding. With that being said, the conditions were the same for everyone, and that’s racing!

What are your goals for this season? 

I don’t like to set placement-based goals because it’s hard to gauge where I will be compared to my competitors. What I will be trying to do is put together as many complete biathlon races as possible next year. Trying to find the process that works best for me. I hope to have the opportunity to race against the best next year and see how far I have come since last year.

What are your strengths in biathlon? What do you need to improve?

After seeing what the top level looks like, I can safely say there is lots to improve! Overall I think my strength lies in the skiing over the shooting aspect. I’ve been working hard on both aspects this summer!

What are your hobbies?

I love to mountain bike. It has been my favorite way to cross-train for biathlon and offers such a nice escape/adrenaline rush! 

Do you have a favorite biathlon track? Where is it and why?

So far my favorite track to race at is in Ridnaun, Italy. I love this track because it has a long, gradual hill that spans the whole back half of the course. This course also has lots of downhill sections and great opportunities for recovery. 

Who is your favorite biathlete (past or present), and why?

When I started watching/following biathlon, Martin Fourcade was the best doing it. I have definitely been inspired by him and the mentality he brought to racing.

Describe yourself in three words.

Adventurous, motivated, competitive

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Maksim Fomin: The Interview!

Maksim Fomin, born on the 12th of October 2000 in Visaginas, is a Lithuanian biathlete. He emerged as a promising Junior, achieving several good results at the Youth and Junior World Championships. His breakthrough came in 2022, when he won the Junior Men’s Super Sprint gold medal at the IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships in Ruhpolding. Since then he has established himself on the World Cup circuit and has represented Lithuania at three World Championships, in 2023, 2024 and 2025 as well as the Olympic Games in 2026.

Follow Maksim on Instagram: m.fom1n

Why did you become a biathlete?

I never really dreamed of becoming a biathlete. I just always wanted to do sports. My Dad gave me that passion, and I’m incredibly grateful to him for it.

I tried a lot of different things growing up — five years of acrobatics, karate, and I even wanted to try kayaking. I was always a very active kid, so I guess I just needed somewhere to put all that energy.

In a way, sport chose me rather than the other way around. My half-brother started biathlon, and my dad suggested that I give it a try too. He said there were a lot of competitions, and I loved competing.

I first tried biathlon when I was in fourth grade, with some of my classmates, but it didn’t really click. I came back about a year or two later, and again, it wasn’t for me.

Then I tried it for the third time… and somehow, that was it. I stayed. And I’m still here today.

Was there a specific moment, race or result when you first realized that you were good enough to become a professional athlete?

There wasn’t really one specific result or moment when everything changed. I gradually realized that I was on the right path. The results I was getting along the way showed me that I was moving in the right direction.

So there was no sudden breakthrough or one particular race where I thought, “Okay, now I’m a professional athlete.” It happened naturally. Year by year, I kept improving little by little, and over time, I realized that this was who I had become — a professional athlete.

You achieved a big personal best last season in the Oestersund Individual coming 20th! What do you remember about that race and did it give you a lot of confidence for the season?

Of course, it felt really good, especially because it was my first individual race of the season. It gave me some extra motivation and confidence that I was on the right path and that I could compete with the best.

But at the same time, I knew I had been capable of this result before. Shooting had always been the thing holding me back. And in an individual race, shooting is probably the most important part.

That day, I was simply calm and completely focused. I didn’t overthink anything. I just did everything the way I had trained to do it. I managed to bring everything together and execute what I was capable of.

It was definitely a great feeling, but I wouldn’t say it gave me motivation for the whole season. After every race, I analyze my performance and understand where the result came from. And I knew that the season probably wouldn’t go as perfectly as that first race.

You competed in your first Olympic Games in Antholz last season. What was that experience like?

Of course, I was really happy to be there. That’s without a doubt. But at the same time, I was a little disappointed with the Olympics, mainly because of my results.

At that time, we were working with a coach who, in my opinion, wasn’t very competent, and I already understood that it would be difficult for me to show the results I was capable of.

I was also a little disappointed by the atmosphere of the Olympics itself. Everything felt so spread out that, for me, it felt more like a World Cup than an Olympic Games. There was more attention around it, of course, but the actual feeling was quite similar to a World Cup.

And maybe my age played a role too. I wasn’t a young guy going to my first Olympics. I was more experienced and already understood how everything worked.

So I have mixed feelings about the Olympics. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it, but I also can’t say it was an amazing experience. It was somewhere in between.

How do you assess last season overall? What were you happy with and were there any disappointing things?

What I was happy about was, as we mentioned earlier, finishing 20th in the individual race and also realizing that I can perform really well in relay races. I can often come out in a leading position, or at least close to the front — around fourth, fifth, or in the top six. That gives me a lot of motivation and confidence.

The biggest disappointment is that I feel I wasted the previous Olympic cycle working with the wrong coaches and not developing in the right direction.

What are your goals for this season? 

I’m not setting any specific goals for this season. I think the first year after the Olympics is the best time to experiment and try new things.

And if you search for the Lithuanian biathlon team online, I think you’ll quickly understand why we’re taking this season seriously. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve.

What are your strengths in biathlon? What do you need to improve?

I think my biggest strength is my mental side. After everything I’ve been through over the years, I’ve learned how to stay strong and deal with difficult situations. I think that’s something I’m really good at.

As for what I need to improve, there are two main things — shooting and skiing. Those are the fundamentals of biathlon, and that’s exactly what we’re working on a lot this year.

Your neighbours Estonia and Latvia are starting to host some big biathlon events. What are facilities like in Lithuania? Do you think you will be able to host some IBU events sometime in the future?

Actually, our shooting range is pretty good and definitely on the same level as the ones in Estonia and Latvia. What we’re missing is a proper roller-ski loop. We have a long roller-ski track, but there’s no real circuit.

In winter, if we get good snow, we can create a proper loop, but unfortunately, that doesn’t happen very often. I’m disappointed that we don’t host more competitions here. And honestly, I don’t think we’ll see international IBU competitions in Lithuania in the next five, maybe even ten years.

I’d be really happy if that changed, and I hope it happens sooner rather than later. It would mean a lot to me.

At the same time, Estonia and Latvia also feel like home tracks to me. I spent a lot of time there as a kid, so I’m always really happy to race there as well.

You have been doing a lot of fun stuff on your social media lately. Is that something you enjoy and where do you get your ideas from?

I’ve always loved filming and creating videos. It’s been a hobby of mine for as long as I can remember. I started filming when I was about eight, when I got my first phone with a camera.

So for me, it’s just something I genuinely enjoy doing. And when it comes to the content, I simply wanted to show people what the life of a biathlete actually looks like — what we do, how we train, and how our days go.

Of course, you can’t fit an entire day into a short video. You can only show small parts of it, but I try to give people a glimpse of what it’s really like. And honestly, I just enjoy the process.

What are three essential things you pack in your suitcase when you are travelling? (not biathlon things)

Slippers, my phone, and my toiletry bag.

Do you have a favourite biathlon track? Where is it and why?

Honestly, there are quite a few places I really like, and they would all make my top list for different reasons.

Sjusjøen is one of them. I just have a lot of great memories from there, and I really like the atmosphere. Although, since it’s an IBU Cup venue, it’s not as relevant for me anymore.

Osrblie is another one. I really like the place, and maybe the track just suits me. It’s quite an easy course, and all of my best results have actually come there. I also really like Salt Lake City in the US. I have some really good memories from there and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

And, of course, Otepää. It’s a home track for me — our fans, our people, familiar faces. So I really enjoy racing there. And of course, Antholz as well. It has its own special atmosphere, and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. But honestly, it’s a very tough course.

Who is your favourite biathlete (past or present) and why?

Without a doubt, Martin Fourcade. For me, he is the greatest biathlete ever. His composure, his incredible technique — he made everything look so effortless and beautiful. It was like he was flying over the course. He wasn’t just skiing — he was almost floating above it.

For me, he is a true legend. I’ve also read his books, and I honestly couldn’t put them down. I think he’ll always remain my favorite and, for me, the greatest biathlete of all time.

Describe yourself in three words.

I’m mentally resilient, extremely determined, and fair.

Have you ever?

• arrived late for a race? No
• cross fired in a race? No
• arrived on the wrong lane? No
• jumped the start? No
• gone to shoot prone instead of standing or vice versa? No
• forgotten to do a penalty loop? No
• gone the wrong way on the course? No
• forgotten something before a race? (eg. rifle, magazine,poles,glasses) Oh yeah, I’ve forgotten quite a few things. Not very often, but it definitely happened. It could be anything — extra glasses, poles, gloves… basically anything you can imagine. It wasn’t a regular thing, but it happened a few times for sure.
• taken someone else’s equipment by mistake? During training, yeah, that happened a couple of times. I would come to the rifle rack and accidentally pick up someone else’s rifle. But honestly, it only happened maybe twice.
• asked another biathlete for an autograph or photo? Of course!

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Christina Picton: The Interview!

Christina Picton is a Canadian para biathlete from Fonthill, Ontario. Born on the 6th of April 1993, Christina has built an impressive sporting career across three different winter sports. At the age of 16, she had her right leg amputated and competes in the sitting category for biathlon and cross country.

She made her Paralympic debut at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, achieving top-eight finishes in all three biathlon events. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games she achieved a fifth-place finish in the Sprint and an eighth-place finish in the Individual event. 

Follow Christina on Instagram: christinapicton4

Why did you become a biathlete?

In 2019 I was exploring different sport opportunities and I met a para nordic skier through a para hockey course I was teaching. She quickly connected me with coaches and mentors in Ontario and it led to an opportunity to participate in a training camp where para national team athletes and coaches were attending. My first exposure to biathlon was with the coach John Jaques alongside some of the athletes at the time, including Collin. The environment John created was so supportive and just open to questions and exploration. I wasn’t shy around a range either, my dad is a retired police officer so shooting rifles and pistols was something I’d done before. I think the combination of having some experience shooting and just how nurturing of a coach John was, is what drew me to the sport from the very beginning. I was more invested in shooting than I was skiing, to be completely honest. John made a good point though, that I did need to learn how to ski – so that’s why I ultimately decided to compete in both disciplines from the start of my career.

You do three winter sports-  biathlon, cross country and ice hockey! How do you manage your training and schedule to compete in all three?

 It’s definitely a lot to juggle. I’m very fortunate that both programs see the benefit of my involvement in each program. The endurance aspect of nordic skiing and biathlon training has certainly leant itself to my overall fitness and has had a great impact for me on the ice. The fast twitch and decision making involved in hockey also translates well to the snow. My ability to sprint and change speed from years of ice hockey gives me another tool to use during races.

You were recently elected as Vice Chair for the Canadian Paralympic Athletes’ council. What does that role involve and why did you want to do it?

I’m still new to the role and learning everything that it encompasses. Essentially, I was elected to be an athlete voice alongside the Athlete Council’s Chair at the table during Canadian Paralympic Committee Board of Directors meetings, assist the Chair in special projects and of course represent that Para athlete voice in Canada on different boards and committees. I’m excited about the role and the opportunity to be able to help make positive change and growth for Canadian para sport and the athletes. 

You took part in your second Paralympic Games in Italy. What was that experience like?

My experience in Italy was vastly different than what I experienced in Beijing. The road to the 2026 Games was extremely turbulent and brought on many different obstacles that didn’t occur leading to Beijing, including injury, illness, coach turnover and a season where I was denied competing in a home Biathlon World Championships. Overall, the accomplishment of that quad was just getting to the start lines in Italy. The venue there was beautiful but it was a shame we were trying to compete in +20 and full sun. The snow conditions were abysmal and quite frankly, it didn’t allow our sport to be showcased to its true potential. There were great things about the experience, though. I got to share the event with my fiancé, Collin Cameron, and my parents were in the stands cheering on Team Canada. That was something I didn’t get to experience in Beijing as it was a COVID games.

How do you assess your overall performance last season?

My shooting performance overall last season was extremely rocky. My shooting was something I could always depend on being consistent prior to taking the 2024/2025 season off. So getting back to the range and behind the sights last season was just an opportunity to shake off the rust leading into the Games. All things considered I am proud of how I shot in Italy, it was my best shooting of the season and what better place to do it than at the Paralympic Games.

What are your goals for this season? Will you go to all the World Cups and World Championships?

My goals for the season are very much process oriented. I’ve got a new stock to get familiar with and I need to refine my shooting position as my sled set up has changed for the 3rd time in the 7 years I’ve been competing. I will attend most of the World Cups and I will prioritize biathlon racing as much as possible. I would love to attend the World Championships but, of course, I will need to be selected to the team. 

What have you done for summer training and what are you plans leading up to the new season?

My spring and summer has been very disrupted. My fiancé and I moved away from Canmore, AB to our new home in Ontario. There was a settling in period that disrupted training but now that we are fully moved in the training has been going very well. 

What are your strengths in biathlon? What do you need to improve?

I would say I’m a pretty quick learner and I have very good body awareness. This has been helpful over the years with the multiple sled and shooting set ups I’ve needed to compete with. Being adaptable that way has allowed me to play around and still find success down range. Moving forward though, I’d like this sled set up and shooting position to be the last one so I can really refine my process and improve the speed of my set up. 

What are your hobbies?

I work as a contract graphic designer around training and competing. I’ve always been artistic so I like to find creative projects and ways to bring that side out of me. Lately I’ve been sewing and making clothing. Being a homeowner is probably the biggest hobby I have now, there’s always something to take care of around the house in between training sessions.

Do you have a favourite biathlon venue? Where is it and why?

I am probably biased but I do love competing in Canmore. The race trails there provide so many options and variety in terrain. I enjoy technical turning and courses with a lot of elevation change so Canmore certainly has those types of trails. I had the chance to race in Jakuszyce, Poland and absolutely loved the range and courses there as well. For many of the same reasons as I love Canmore. The trails were narrow and winding so it made for very fun skiing.

Who is your favourite biathlete (past or present) and why?

I’ve always appreciated how my team mate Brittany Hudak approaches biathlon and shooting. I’ve learned a lot from her over the years and I love watching her compete and find her rhythm on the range and on the snow.

Describe yourself in three words. 

Determined, Fierce, Joyful

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Vitalii Mandzyn: The Interview!

Vitalii Mandzyn is a Ukrainian biathlete who has emerged as one of the most promising young talents in the sport. The 23-year-old who was born in Ternopil, got his first World Cup top-ten finish with 4th place in the 2024 Kontiolahti Short Individual. Last season, he finished 25th in the Total Score, up from 31st the previous season, and achieved a best result of 10th in the Mass Start at his debut Olympics in Antholz 2026.

Follow Vitalii on Instagram: vitalii.mandzyn

Why did you become a biathlete?

I started to do biathlon almost 13 years ago, when I was 10. I was doing aikido and playing the clarinet before. Then my older sister started to do biathlon and I joined some training with her and in this way I decided to do biathlon.

You competed in your first Olympic Games in Antholz last season. What was that experience like?

When I found out I would go to the Olympic Games I was really happy and proud of myself. Therefore I went there with the intention of introducing myself in the best way and not only to be a participant at the Games but to compete for the top spots.

How do you assess last season overall? What were you happy with and were there any disappointing things?

I consider that last season was much better and more stable than the previous one. Yes there were not so many bright races like the flower ceremony but I managed to be really good in almost every race. Unfortunately I had some problems with my shooting but I am working on this.

What are your goals for this season?

The main goal this season is as always: to show myself in the best way possible.

What summer training have you done so far and what are you plans up until the World Cup begins? Can you train in Ukraine or is it all in other countries?

Together with the main team we are on the 4th training camp of this preparation period. We are in Obertilliach right now(mid August). Yes, we had one training camp (the first one) in Sianky, Ukraine.

What are your strengths in biathlon? What do you need to improve?

I can’t highlight any strength so far 😅 because I see that there is space in every component of our sport to improve. So I am working both on shooting and skiing skills.

How has being a biathlete and being in the biathlon family helped you cope with the war in your country?

Honestly,  I will always be so thankful for the people who really help and support us through this difficult time. Fortunately there are many of them in our biathlon family.

What are your hobbies?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of time to search for new hobbies but I really like and appreciate spending time with my family and friends. Moreover, I like doing something on the lake in my hometown , especially when the weather is perfect.

What are three essential things you pack in your suitcase when you are travelling? (not biathlon things)

Passport, phone and headphones.

Do you have a favourite biathlon track? Where is it and why?

Mostly I like the tracks where there are a lot of fans so Annecy, Oberhof, Ruhpolding and Nove Mesto. Moreover, I love Antholz because of it’s stunning landscapes.

Who is your favourite biathlete (past or present) and why?

I don’t have a favourite biathlete but there are a few that I take inspiration from.

Describe yourself in three words.

I’m determined, level-headed and persistent.

Have you ever?

• arrived late for a race? No
• cross fired in a race? No
• arrived on the wrong lane? No
• jumped the start? No
• gone to shoot prone instead of standing or vice versa? No
• forgotten to do a penalty loop? No
• gone the wrong way on the course? No
• forgotten something before a race? (eg. rifle, magazine,poles,glasses) No
• taken someone else’s equipment by mistake? No
• asked another biathlete for an autograph or photo? Yes, I don’t remember when exactly, but when I was younger I definitely did it.

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Stefan Egger-Riedmueller: The Interview!

Stefan Egger-Riedmueller is an Austrian para biathlete and cross-country skier. He only began cross-country skiing in 2020 and was discovered two years later by former biathlete Tobias Eberhard, marking the start of his competitive career. Born without a fibula or calf muscles in his right leg, he competes in the standing category. The 30-year-old Tyrolean made his Paralympic debut in 2026 and is now preparing for the upcoming season.

Follow Stefan on Instagram: es_egger_riedmuellert

Why did you become a biathlete?

At first, I started with cross-country skiing, first skating and then classic. In Para Nordic skiing, it’s very common to compete in both cross-country skiing and biathlon, so I decided to give biathlon a try. From my very first shooting session, I really enjoyed it, and it turned out that I had a good feeling for it.

Is Tobias Eberhard still your coach? What is it like working with him?

Yes, Tobias Eberhard is still my coach. We have a very good coach-athlete relationship, and I have learned—and continue to learn—a lot from him. His experience as a former athlete is incredibly valuable and has helped me improve both on the shooting range and on the course.

How are you funded to do the sport?

In Austria, Para athletes also have the opportunity to work in sports support positions within government ministries. In my case, I work for the Austrian Customs Service, where I also complete part of my regular duties during the year. In addition, we receive great support from our ski federation, whether it’s for training camps or traveling to competitions. I’m very grateful for this support because, without it, competing at this level would hardly be possible.

You took part in your first Paralympic Games. What was the experience like?

The atmosphere was incredible, and the entire event was perfectly organized. Since the Games were only about three hours away from my home, my family, friends, and many people I know were able to come and support me. Experiencing that kind of atmosphere and encouragement is something very special and doesn’t happen very often.

How do you assess your overall performance last season?

Since I compete in both biathlon and cross-country skiing, I have to assess them separately. I’m very happy with my performances in cross-country skiing. I made a big step forward, which was reflected in finishing third overall in the Cross-Country World Cup standings.

My biathlon season was a bit more mixed. I had some strong individual performances, but I wasn’t able to find enough consistency throughout the season, especially on the shooting range. That’s something we’re working on intensively at the moment.

What have you done for summer training so far, and what will you do until the season begins?

During the spring, I spent a lot of time building my endurance with easy training sessions on the bike and on roller skis. As the season gets closer, the intensity of the training gradually increases. On the shooting side, I’ve done a lot of dry-fire training to improve my technique and make my routines as efficient and consistent as possible so that I can execute them under race pressure.

What are your goals for this season? Will you compete in all World Cups and the World Championships?

The plan is definitely to compete in as many races as possible. We’ll make decisions from one event to the next and see what makes the most sense. The two major highlights of the season are, of course, the World Championships, where I want to deliver my best performance when it matters most.

What are your strengths in biathlon? What do you need to improve?

One of my strengths is that I handle the physical stress at the shooting range quite well. I also adapt quickly to new coaching inputs and can implement changes effectively in training.

The next step is to transfer that consistency into competition. Another strength is definitely my final lap. I love pushing myself to the limit and giving everything I have until the finish line.

What are your hobbies?

In my free time, I enjoy meeting friends for a coffee, playing tennis, and cooking.

Do you have a favourite biathlon venue?

Yes, I really like Pokljuka. The scenery is beautiful, and the courses are challenging and varied. I think it’s the perfect venue for this year’s World Championships 😉

Who is your favourite biathlete?

Without a doubt, Simon Eder. His shooting skills have always been incredible.

Describe yourself in three words.

Determined – Ambitious – Cheerful

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Johan Hagström: The Interview!

Johan Hagström, the Swedish shooting coach, is one of the most recognizable figures on the biathlon range. The 45-year-old Östersund resident has, for many years, played a key role in the success of Sweden’s current biathlon stars after cutting his own biathlon career short. One of the few Swedish coaches working at the top level, he talks about his journey from athlete to trainer, shares his thoughs on last season’s standout moments and reflects on the staff changes.

Follow Johan on Instagram: hagstrom1195

Why did you decide to become a biathlon coach and how did you become Sweden’s shooting coach?

I was practicing biathlon myself. When I was around 25 I realized that I wouldn´t be a top athlete. So then I changed career and become a coach. I was a cross-country coach for 3 years but in 2010 the former Head coach in Sweden, Staffan Eklund, called me and asked if I wanted to work for Swedish biathlon. Around 2015 the federation was on a low level and there was not so many coaches, so we had to do everything around the team. But the results were getting better and better and so also the economy in the federation, so more coaches could be hired. We started to work more and more professionally which meant that I could focus more on shooting, and other coaches were focusing more on other things.  

Jean-Marc Chabloz left the team at the end of the season.  What was he like to work with and what did you learn from him?

Jean-Marc is a funny guy so it was always nice to be on the range with him. We had a great time together. He was very passionate about everything no matter how small a thing it was. 

Jonne Kahkonen has joined the team. How is he settling in and how do things work between you? Do you work together all the time or do you have separate duties or work with different biathletes?

Jonne is easy to work with and there has been no problem letting him into the team. It feels like he has been here for years already. We try to work together as much as we can and not split up the team as we did before.

Tell us about the Olympics. What was it like watching Martin Ponsiluoma winning gold? How do you assess the results and performances overall?

It is always nice when you see an athlete reach their goals. To see his last shooting and follow him the last loop and to see him getting his medal, all the joy and happines. That is the best feeling as a coach.
Our goal before the Olympics was to get a medal in both the women’s and men’s races. We did that so we are happy to be able to reach that goal. We know it is not so easy to get a medal during a championship, you can´t just go there and take them.

What training have you done so far and what are the plans for the rest of the summer?

So far we have been working a lot on basic training, both physical and shooting. It has been a lot of technical work. From now it will be more speed and “biathlon training”. We did a training camp in Norway but except for that we have been at home in Östersund.

Do you set specific goals for athletes or general goals for the team? What are your hopes for this season?

The federation has clear goals for the team, but of course the athletes set their own goals. My personal goal is to make them better every day on the range. My hope for the season is to make an even better season than the last one.

Do you enjoy thinking up new ways of training and new drills? Is it hard to keep things fresh and interesting for the biathletes?

It is always nice to sit and think about new drills that we can do. But most of the exercises are only for a short period of time or for just 1 session. It is difficult to find new ways of training that stay forever.

Do you prefer making a great athlete 1% better or making a big improvement with a younger or less experienced biathlete and why?

These big improvements you don’t see so often, and when you see the athletes almost everyday then it is even harder to see that big development. So, for me it is 1% better every day, week, month and year that is more interesting.

There aren’t many Swedish coaches at the elite level of biathlon. Why do you think that is? Which of the current biathletes do you think would make a good coach in the future?

Biathlon has been a small sport in Sweden so there haven’t been that many jobs as a coach. We are getting bigger and have more and more coaches. I hope and think that you will see more of us in the future. Jesper Nelin would become a great coach, that I´m sure of. 

What do you enjoy most about being a coach and what things do you wish you didn’t have to do?

To stand on the range and try to make everything and everyone a little better than yesterday. Working with people that are trying to make everything better and better, that is the best part. The boring part is when you do things where you feel, “We could have avoided this, I’m only doing this because I have to, this will not make the team perform better”.

If you could pick any biathlon coach to be your coach, who would you choose and why?

Patrick Oberegger – he has a lot of knowledge but stands with both feet on the ground. 

Describe yourself in three words.

Careful, attentive, consistent

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Spring Things 2026!

Welcome to Spring Things, your roundup of everything you might have missed in biathlon over the Spring (and most of the Summer!) while you were on holiday or caught up in other sports (how dare you!). So much has happened that I may have overlooked a few bits, but this should get you back up to speed.

The biggest news at the start of spring came from Emilien Jacquelin, who revealed his plan to try cycling with a professional team to see if he could succeed in that sport. He’s not officially retiring from biathlon and but it remains to be seen whether he will return this winter with skis and rifle or not. Unfortunately, he’s already taken a fall and broken his collarbone—and that’s just the start of the biathlon injury list!

Injuries

His teammate, Sophie Chauveau, also had a fall from her bike and landed in the hospital with a concussion. The same thing happened to Viktor Brandt who was also left concussed. Lou Jeanmonnot had to undergo eye surgery, and poor Marketa Davidova needed a second operation for her herniated disc.

Aita Gasparin underwent surgery on her big toe, Maya Cloetens had shoulder surgery after two dislocations, and Tommaso Giacomel slipped on some moss, dislocating his shoulder but avoided the need for an operation. Otto Invenius underwent an unexpected surgery but didn’t say what it was for.

Karoline Knotten had surgery to remove her infected and ruptured appendix, while Martin Uldal experienced amnesia after a skiing accident.

Spring is a dangerous time to be a biathlete!

Retirements

There were a spate of retirements post season with many people not getting the memo that you are supposed to announce it before the end of the season so we can celebrate you! Germany’s Johannes Kuehn decided to end his career. We also said goodbye to Canadians Adam Runnalls, who moves into coaching, and Benita Peiffer. Norwegian pair Vetle Paulsen and Marit Skogan hung up their rifles as well as Austria’s David Komatz, Slovakia’s Julia Machyniakova and Slovenia’s Anton Vidmar. Belgium’s Cesar Beauvais announced his retirement just this week. American Grace Castonguay is stepping away from the sport for a while but could return in the future.

Leaving the sport to try his hand at cross country skiing is Czech Jakub Stvrtecky much to the delight of biathlon commentators everywhere. In return we get Einar Hedegart who after some wrangling will be on the Norwegian B-Team with special access to the A-team coach. Lea Fischer also moves over from cross country to biathlon for Switzerland.

Family news

The biathlon family is growing, with Jesper Nelin welcoming a baby, as did fellow Swede and Para biathlete Zebastian Modin. Hanna Oberg and Martin Ponsiluoma are expecting their first child to add to the Swedish baby boom! Ragnhild Femsteinevik tied the knot and shared the happy news of her pregnancy, while Tereza Jandova is also expecting.

Deedra Irwin got married in April and Joscha Burkhalter tied the knot in June. Fabien Claude got engaged proposing on the top of a mountain in New Zealand! Elvira Oberg and Oskar Brandt also got engaged at the end of July. Congratulations to all of them!

Coaching changes

After the Olympic cycle ended, many coaching changes took place, with coaches seeking new challenges and nations eager for fresh ideas.

The worst-kept secret of the spring was Siegfried Mazet’s return to the French team. When he announced his departure from Norway, it was clear where he was headed. Now, he’ll be joining forces with his former star, Simon Fourcade, on the men’s team.

Patrick Oberegger is stepping in for Mazet with Norway, moving over from the women’s team. Joining him is Anders Overby, who previously led the IBU team. Taking the reins for the Norwegian women are Sverre Olsbu Roiseland and former cross-country skier Marte Kristoffersen. The IBU squad will now be managed by Andreas Kvam and Ronny Andre Hafsaas.

These appointments were overseen by Norway’s new sport director Lars Maeland, who took over from Per Arne Botnan, and assistant Anders Brun Hennum. Botnan has now become a consultant for Lithuanian biathlon.

Some of the new team’s other decisions have already stirred controversy after leaving Endre Stroemsheim and Vebjorn Soerum off the national team entirely. They have an arrangement similar to Knotten’s last season, with waxing and medical assistance provided, but otherwise, they are on their own for training this summer.

Sandra Flunger will replace Roiseland in the German women’s team, with Denny Andritske as her assistant. She’s the first female coach of the women’s team since Renate Schinze, who led the first-ever female German World Cup team. Kristian Mehringer is now responsible for developing German biathlon, while Erik Lesser takes over as coach of the Junior Women.

Switzerland has replaced Flunger with two coaches: Kein Einaste in the men’s team and Gion-Andrea Bundi in the women’s. Rico Gross and Andreas Kuppelwieser will serve as shooting coaches, while Fabian Beri takes charge of the B-team.

After a successful run with Italy, Jonne Kahkonen has joined the Swedish team, taking over from the retired Jean-Marc Chabloz. Well, semi-retired—he’ll still be lending a hand to Per Nilsson, the new development coach for Swedish biathlon.

Egil Gjelland is stepping in as the new Italian shooting coach, joining Edoardo Mezzaro. Andrea Zattoni and Fabio Cianciana will stay on with the men’s team, while Mirco Romanin takes over as head coach of the Italian Juniors.

After a decade together, Dmytro Pidruchnyi has parted ways with his personal coach, Juraj Sanitra. Sergii Semenov is now the head coach of Ukraine’s men’s team, replacing Nadia Bilova, while Oksana Khvostenko steps in as women’s head coach, succeeding Mykola Zots.

Armin Auchentaller stepped down as America’s head coach to join Slovenia, teaming up with Rok Trsan. Emil Bormetti takes over as head coach of the US men’s team, while former US biathlete Michael Gibson will lead the women’s squad.

There were major changes for Austria, with Wolfgang Pichler taking on the role of consultant for planning and training management. This brought in Felian Schubert as the new men’s coach and saw Markus Fischer return to lead the women’s team.

Michal Slesinger is making a comeback to the biathlon scene, joining forces with former teammate Ondrej Moravec to coach the Czech men’s team. Adam Vaclavik has also become an assistant coach to Zdenek Vit for the academic squad who combine biathlon with their studies.

Luca Bormolini is the new coach of the Kazakhstan Junior team.

Helene Jorgensen has left her position with the Canadian team leaving Andrew Chisholm as the sole coach of the team.

Finland have added Ahti Toivanen to their World Cup coaching team to help Erik Kulstad and Aku Moilanen. A certain Kaisa Makarinen is the new coach of the Finnish Under 21’s!

Olympic/Paralymic News:

It has been announced that the Single Mixed Relay will be added to the Olympic programme from 2030 giving the smaller nations an extra race and a chance to wrestle some medals away from the bigger nations.

The Para biathlon will take place in La Clusaz at the 2030 Games in France.

New calendar

This season kicks off with a refreshed biathlon calendar, featuring Oberhof’s shift from January to March, a brief season opener in Kontiolahti, an early Christmas break, and a two-day World Cup round in Pokljuka over New Year. The action begins on the 26th of November in Finland—let the countdown begin!

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Biathlon23 Awards 2025/26!

Welcome to the 12th annual Biathlon23 awards. The alternative awards for biathlon which represent the important things in the sport like the best moustache and the funniest moment. These are what everyone wants to win. Olympic medals and World Cup crystal globes are nothing in comparison to the glory of winning a coveted Biathlon23 Award!

The awards are of course subject to a rigorous system used to ensure fairness in the nominations and winners – I pick them and it’s totally biased! Read, enjoy and feel free to disagree!

Most hits on the blog (most popular):

There were all kinds of different interviews this season with coaches, general managers, para biathletes and biathletes from all over the World from Norway to Greece via America and Canada to name a few. One of those stood out among the rest creating a lot of interest especially around the Olympics! A 16th place finish in the Sprint gained a lot of attention followed up by a 20th in the Pursuit and a first-ever Mass Start from someone from her country. She hasn’t actually be representing her parents’ country of Denmark for very long but she has been doing it very well and people have noticed. She has rocketed to the third most popular interview of all time on the blog!

Winner: Anne De Besche

Special moment:

The special moment of the season is also one tinged with sadness and a lot of emotion. After the sudden and shocking death of Sivert Bakken, one of his closest friend’s season was completely derailed. He was having the best season of his career up until Christmas and then tragedy struck. It was a hard road back for him and sickness didn’t help either. He did make it back and honoured Bakken in the best possible way by winning the Individual gold medal at the Olympics and dedicating it to his dear friend. Some things are just meant to happen and that was definitely the case in Antholz. When he crossed the line and pointed to the sky it was a beautiful and very poignant moment none of us will ever forget.

Winner: Johan-Olav Botn’s Olympic gold.

Funniest moment:

This season has been full of hilarious moments, mostly thanks to Campbell! From jumping into the hot tub after the race in Kontiolahti to showing up on the podium in flip-flops and shorts in Otepaa. There was Otto Invenius taking on the role of the Otepaa mascot ‘Otto’ for the day, and Fabien Claude sliding into his team photo after being late chatting with fans. In Holmenkollen, the men were all jumping over the final hill during training, with a few tumbles from Adam Runnalls and Maxime Germain in particular. Maren Kirkeeide had her own comedy act, failing to open a champagne bottle not once but twice at the Olympics. Social media was buzzing too, with plenty of laughs from the likes of Anna Gandler and Edgars Mise.

The funniest was at the Olympics though. If you are going to come last you get nothing anyway – no points, no prize money – so why not have a sprint for the line. And when you initiate the idea and spend the last lap convincing the others to join in and then lose the photo finish and come last, it’s even funnier, right Campbell?😂

Winner: Mass Start last place sprint between Fabien Claude, Nicola Romanin and Campbell Wright.

Favourite first:

This award goes to a biathlete or team achieving something for the first time, like a debut win, podium finish, or a perfect 20/20. This season saw several first-time winners, including Suvi Minkkinen, Johan-Olav Botn, Oceane Michelon, and Maren Kirkeeide. But this honour is for a first-ever 20/20. He’s managed a few perfect 10/10 Sprints before, but is best known for his lightning-fast skiing, especially on the final lap. Shooting has been more of a challenge, particularly in the World Cup, forcing him to fight for his place on the team. Missing automatic selection at the start of the season, he clawed his way up through the IBU Cup. So shooting clean in a four-shoot race is a big deal, but imagine doing it for the first time at the Olympics, in the Mass Start, and you were the only one who did it! Oh, and it won you the Olympic gold medal!!! Incredible.

Winner: Johannes Dale-Skjevdal

Toys out of the pram:

To ‘throw your toys out of the pram’ is an English idiom which means to act in a petulant or upset manner like a small child. There are always biathletes who are upset about something like the ski techs not getting the waxing right or the coaches not selecting them for the World Cup or maybe the relay team but I have never heard one complain about others trying to win a race! Yes, that’s what happened in Kontiolahti! One member of the French team got mad at his teammates for not helping him to win! He suggested that Eric Perrot and Fabien Claude should not have done any work to catch him up when he was leading the Mass Start and should have let the Norwegians do the job. Looks like he forgot that you are only a team in the Relay and not the individual races where it is everyone for themselves. Strange that he didn’t blame the loss on his own two mistakes in the shooting! 😉

Winner: Emilien Jacquelin

Moment of Madness:

There can be lots of moments biathletes would rather forget like falling and breaking poles or worse a rifle. You can use too many spares bullets in a relay or not enough. You can forget to do a penalty loop or that you have to put your rifle back on before you leave the mat! All of these things happened this season. They were all eclipsed, and I think you know where this is going, by one man’s Olympic interview! After winning a bronze medal in the Individual he went on TV to confess, without even being asked as no one knew, in floods of tears to cheating on his girlfriend! Wrong time and wrong place considering what else happened in that race! A real moment of madness, though the confession seems to have sparked the best form of his life, so maybe not completely mad after all—just perhaps something to share with friends rather than the whole world! On a lighter note, biathlon was trending everywhere, and you know what they say: all publicity is good publicity!

Winner: Sturla Laegried

Best ski suit:

This one may be slightly controversial as I am not accepting Olympic ski suit entries! They are used only for two weeks and are not a great advert for sustainability and even though the suits from France, Greenland and Lithuania in particular were really good this award is for the World Cup ski suit! The Czech and Slovakian suits were good, the Estonian suit I liked a lot as well as the pink sleeves of Kazakhstan making them very easy to spot. The winner is a cool suit with a green sleeve and a blue sleeve, blue trousers with green at the bottom and a pattern which reflects the mountains on the flag with green, blue and white chevrons. Snazzy!

Winner: Slovenia

Best rifle design:

This award has been brought out of retirement after finally finding a worthy recipient. As rifle design started getting boring with some nice designs but no new ones and most people going for a single colour on the stock I gave up on this! But when you move country you need a new rifle to reflect your new status! This one has a white stock, which is pretty unusual anyway, a bullet with a little arm holding a British flag joined by a series of flames to another flag. The second flag is the place where this biathlete is from, the region of Haute-Savoie in France, and so tells the story of his biathlon journey as well as looking cool. Best of all, it was designed by his sister making it even more personal and special!

Winner: Jacques Jeffries

Best Moustache:

Back in the day this award would have been for best beard but it’s seems moustaches are all the rage these days. Stura had one, Emilien Jacquelin, Adam Runnalls, Jacques Jeffries and even Rihards Lozbers who isn’t even old enough to grow a moustache has one! There can only be one winner though. Sporting a mighty ‘tash’ that would not be out of place on the upper lip of a Victorian gentleman – it’s truly magnificent!🥸

Winner: Dajan Danuser

Best knitwear:

It seems like every biathlete’s hobby just now is knitting! They are all doing it! The Norwegian and Swedish women are famous for it but now the men are getting involved to. One man’s quest to knit a jumper at the Olympics was well documented on his Instagram stories and turned out really well although I think we are still waiting for the rings! It’s grey with green stripes and they even all line up and everything. He since moved on to hats and one that even looks like a strawberry. Let’s hope he starts taking commissions soon!

Winner: Adam Runnalls

Best biathlete23:

As we know the IBU changed the start groups in the Sprint and Individual last season thinking they could stop the success of bib23! How wrong they were! While there was success on World Cup with Hanna Oberg winning the Holmenkollen Sprint, the Olympics was the big story. Out of nowhere a biathlete in bib23 shocked everyone (except me!) with an outstanding performance! Using the power of bib23 to step on to the podium for the very first time, winning a bronze medal at aged just 22 with a magnificent 20/20 in the Olympic Individual there can only be one best biathlete23!

Winner: Lora Hristova

Biggest improver:

You’d usually expect this award to go to a young athlete, since they often make the biggest leaps, but last year’s winner Suvi proved it’s never too late! This season tells a similar story: a 30-year-old who boosted her prone shooting from 71% to 85% and her standing from 86% to 88%, raising her overall shooting score from 78% to 87%. Those improvements led to eight Top 20 finishes—the most in her career—and matched her personal best of 8th place.

Winner: Regina Ermits

Best team performance:

There were some great team performances this season. The Norwegian men’s relay team were fantastic on the World Cup. The French men’s and women’s relay teams were amazing at the Olympics. But you know we kind of expect it from them. Less expected was the fabulous results from one of the smaller nations. They started out in the first Mixed Relay of the season in Oestersund in 6th, in Nove Mesto they improved to 4th and then in the final race of the season they finished third, leading at all three exchanges, to achieve their best-ever finish in this event!

Winner: US Mixed Relay Team

Performance of the season:

There were some great performances this season, but one truly stood out. It came from someone who’s had to battle back more than once from both mental and physical challenges. She struggled with her shooting but eventually overcame those issues to claim the Overall Title. Then, unable to defend it due to back problems, she had to miss an entire season—one that happened to be right before her home Olympics, with the fear she might not even make it there. Racing in a home Olympics is rare, winning a gold medal at a home Olympics is rarer, and winning Italy’s first-ever gold in biathlon is unprecedented. Delivering an incredible performance, hitting 20 out of 20 in the Pursuit, all in front of family, friends, and fans, is absolutely unbelievable. But she made it happen!

Winners: Lisa Vittozzi

Biathlete of the year:

There were some great contenders for this one. Johan-Olav Botn had an incredible start to the season, Sturla Laegreid and Emilien Jacquelin had an incredible finish to the season. Julia Simon had an amazing Olympics and the Oberg sisters finished the season really strong. Eric Perrot won the Overall and 3 of the 4 disciplines. The winner is someone who has finished second twice in the Overall and last season lost it in the final corner of the final race. She overcame the disappointment to come back stronger, winning three races on the World Cup, taking five second places and three thirds. At the Olympics, she won two golds in the Relays and added silver in the Individual, bronze in Sprint and was 4th in the Pursuit. She won the Overall with 177 points and 2 races to spare as well as three of the four discipline globes. A fabulous season!

Winner: Lou Jeanmonnot

Para biathlete of the year:

There are a lot of Para biathletes to choose from over three different categories but there was one this year who stood out among the others. This Para biathlete has improved dramatically since her first attempt at biathlon at the Vuokatti World Cup back in 2018. She won the Overall Title in the standing category for the first time appearing on the podium in every single race, winning six out of the nine races on the World Cup. She then went on to win two gold medals at the Paralympics in the Individual and Sprint Pursuit as well as silver in the Sprint without missing a single target across all three races!

Winner: Natalie Wilkie

Junior biathlete of the year:

A lot of Juniors now compete at World Cup and IBU level and move up and down to the Junior Cup too. There have been some impressive performances from the likes of Oleksandra Merkushyna, Philip Lindkvist-Floetten, Inka Hamalainen, Thomas Marchl, Tetiana Tarasiuk and Kasper Kalkenberg to name just a few. There is one who has stood out from all of those. Winning the Junior Cup and Junior Mass Start title, three medals at Junior Europeans – gold in the Mass Start 60 and two bronze in the Sprint and Single Mixed, two gold medals at the Junior World Championships in the Sprint and Mixed Relay and silver in the Mass Start 60. She competed at the Olympics with a best result of 11th in the Pursuit which she topped in the Otepaa Sprint earning her World Cup personal best of 9th! Not bad for a 20-year-old!

Winner: Estere Volfa

Youth biathlete of the year:

It’s always hard to choose the Youth biathlete as you have to base it mainly on the World Championships. Unless of course you are a Youth that has competed over the course of the season on the Junior Cup, the IBU Cup, the World Cup, the Youth and Junior World Championships and not forgetting the Olympic Games! It has been quite a season for a 16-year-old! He was 16th in the Junior Cup, 65th on the IBU Cup and 62nd on the World Cup all in one season. He won two bronze medals in the European Junior Championships in the Individual and Mixed Relay. He won 3 Youth World Championship medals – gold in the Individual and silver in both the Sprint and Mass Start 60. He won gold stepping up to the Junior team at World Championships in the Mixed Relay. His best result at the Olympics was 32nd in the Sprint before bettering that in the Otepaa Pursuit finishing 31st to become the youngest man to earn World Cup points! Then in the Oslo Sprint he improved that PB again to 21st and became the youngest man to qualify for a World Cup Mass Start. Imagine what he could do now that he is 17!

Winner: Rihards Lozbers

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Season Review 2025/26: Men!

The 2025/26 season was another fantastic one! With 9 World Cup rounds and the Winter Olympic Games to enjoy, there was plenty of action. While the Overall race might not have been as thrilling as in the previous season, there was still no shortage of excitement.

Overall

Eric Perrot clinched the Overall Title this season by an impressive 279 points! Sadly, we didn’t get the nail-biting battle we hoped for, due to unfortunate events like the tragedy that struck Johan-Olav Botn over Christmas when he was leading the Total Score, and Tommaso Giacomel’s heart issues that forced him to end his season early while battling Perrot for the yellow bib. I’m sure Perrot still would have won, but it would’ve been a lot more exciting and definitely closer. His season was remarkable—he won four races, fewer than some rivals, yet only finished outside the Top 10 twice, placing 11th and 12th in those instances. That incredible consistency also earned him three of the four discipline globes.

Consistency is usually the trademark of our runner-up, Sturla Laegreid. Interestingly, his worst finishes of the season were also 11th and 12th, but illness and Olympic preparation kept him out of two World Cup rounds in Oberhof and Nove Mesto. He focused his season on the Olympics, and it paid off with five medals, though it meant he couldn’t defend his Overall Title. After the Games, he was unstoppable, claiming six podiums in six races—five wins and a second place—which propelled him into second overall and earned him the Sprint title.

Johan-Olav Botn had a rollercoaster season, starting and ending with a win but facing plenty of turmoil in between. In his first full World Cup season, he claimed three victories in the first eight races and never placed lower than fifth, earning him the yellow bib by Christmas. The tragic death of Sivert Bakken derailed his momentum, and a subsequent illness ended his chances for the Overall title. However, he bounced back at the Olympics with a gold medal, and strong late-season results secured him third place overall.

Globes

The small globes for the Individual disciplines went to Eric Perrot for the Individual, Pursuit and Mass Start while Sturla Laegreid won the Sprint title.

Isak Frey ended the season in the blue bib as the best biathlete Under 23 finishing 15th in the Total Score with 538 points.

Teams

Of the five Relays on the World Cup this season Norway won four of them taking the Relay globe by 45 points. The only other team to win a race were France and they came second in the standings. Sweden were third in four out of the five races and so came third in the standings too.

The Mixed Relay Score went to Norway, who snatched the lead from France in the final two races of the season.

In the Nations Cup Norway were victorious winning the title for the 21st time.

Olympics

The gold medallists and new Olympic Champions in Antholz were Quentin Fillon Maillet in the Sprint, Martin Ponsiluoma in the Pursuit, Johan-Olav Botn in the Individual and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal in the Mass Start.

France won the Men’s Relay and the Mixed Relay title.

First times

There was only one first time winner on the World Cup and that was Johan-Olav Botn.

Climbing on to the podium for the first time were Philipp Horn in the Hochfilzen Sprint where he was third, Isak Frey who was third in the Ruhpolding Sprint, Sverre Aspenes who was third in the Nove Mesto Mass Start and Campbell Wright got his first World Cup podium finishing second in the same race.

IBU Cup

Last season the IBU Cup was entirely dominated by Norway but this season it was France who were the most successful with the top four places in the Overall! Gaetan Paturel won the Total Score as well as the small globes for the Sprint and Pursuit. The Individual title was won by Elias Seidl and the Mass Start went to Martin Nevland. France also won the Men’s Relay and the Nations Cup.

At the Open European Championships in Sjusjoen Antonin Guigonnat took gold in the Individual and Damien Levet won the Sprint. Isak Frey dropped down from the World Cup to win the Individual gold and anchored the Norwegian team to victory in the Relay.

Para biathlon

Si=Sitting St=Standing VI= Visually Impaired

The Overall Title winners were Derek Zaplotinsky in the Sitting, Mark Arendz in the Standing by just 4 points, and Nico Messinger in the VI.

Paralympic Games

At the Paralympics in Val di Fiemme the Sprint titles went to Taras Rad (Si), Jaiyun Cai (St) and Oleksandr Kazik (VI). The Sprint Pursuits were won by Yerbol Khamitov (Si), Jaiyun Cai (St) and Shuang Yu (VI). The Individual gold medals went to Zixu Liu (Si), Jaiyun Cai (St), and Hesong Dang (VI).

Junior Cup

The Total Score for the Juniors went to Thomas Marchl who also won the Sprint standings and the Mass Start title. Camille Grataloup-Manissolle won the Individual globe. Czechia won both the Relay standings and the Nations Cup.

At World Championships in Arber Philip Lindkvist-Floetten won gold in the Individual, Grzegorz Galica took the Sprint and Kasper Kalkenberg defended his title in the Mass Start 60. France won the Men’s Relay and Latvia took the Mixed Relay gold.

At the European Junior Championships in Imatra David Elias won the Individual while Vladimir Kocmanek won the Sprint. It was Michael Malek who claimed gold in the Mass Start 60. The Mixed Relay title went to Sweden and the Single Mixed to Ukraine.

Youths

At the Youth World Championships in Arber Rihards Lozbers took gold in the Individual, Markus Sklenarik won the Sprint and Georgi Dzhorgov was victorious in the Mass Start 60. Italy won the Men’s Relay while Austria triumphed in the Mixed Relay.

Retirements

The man we thought would never retire has retired! Simon Eder finally hung up his rifle after making his World Cup debut in 2003. I’m sure he will be back though as surely someone will want him as a shooting coach. Other retirees were Antonin Guigonnat, Tomas Kaukenas, American duo Paul Schommer and Jake Brown along with Tomas Sklenarik, Adam Vaclavik and Mikito Tachizaki.

Haldan Borglum and Daniel Gilfillan also ended their careers as well as Mathieu Garcia, Oskar Ohlsson and Daniele Cappellari. Anton Sinapov and Anton Ivarsson also said goodbye to the sport.

Para biathlon saw two retirements as well. Friend of the blog Keiichi Sato chose to wrap up his career in winter sports, and the hardest farewell of all for this blog was to Scotland’s own Scott Meenagh. He made history by taking a silver medal at the World Championship and earning a World Cup podium, becoming the first Brit to achieve such a feat at any level of biathlon.😭

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