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Biathlon

Coverage of elite Biathlon racing and news – from the junior level to the World Cup.
John Farra Named Director of Sport Development for U.S. Biathlon

U.S. Biathlon has taken yet another step to fortify its athletic position for the future, naming Olympian John Farra to the newly-created position, director of sport development. Farra, an NCAA cross country skiing All-American with the University of Utah and a 1992 Olympian, has built a highly-successful career in sport development across multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports organizations. Farra’s new role will focus on talent identification among junior and collegiate cross country skiers and providing a...

Long time US Biathlon President Max Cobb named Head of International Biathlon Union: Sustainability and Competition keys to Growth He Says

For the first time ever, an American will preside over international governance of a nordic sport. On Tuesday, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) announced that longtime U.S. Biathlon President and CEO Max Cobb has been named the IBU Secretary General. Cobb will finish up his second term on the IBU Executive Board and leave his post as at U.S. biathlon at the end of September, then begin his new role overseeing international competition, governance, and...

GRPSki, Biathlon and U23 Training programs all accepting applications for the ’22-23 training year

GRPSki & Biathlon are now accepting applications for the 2022-23 training year as well as for their summer U23 training programs. Applications will be due by end of day April 10 and decisions will be made by April 17. In exchange for coaching, use of training facilities and travel support, GRP year-round and summer U23 athletes are asked to do work that contributes to the mission and operation of the Center. Projects include: coaching youth and...

Applications now open for elite U.S. skiers — 2022 U.S. Biathlon Team Talent ID Program LAKE PLACID, NY

Overview The U.S. Biathlon Team invites current and/or recently graduated collegiate cross country skiers to apply to its Talent ID program. The program is designed for current cross-country skiing talents who are interested in continuing their athletic ski racing careers professionally after college, but need professional support and guidance in committing to their next step. This fully-supported, pre-professional summer training team based in Lake Placid, NY will prepare athletes to transition from their collegiate careers...

(Press Release) Deedra Irwin 23rd in Beijing Mass Start

BEIJING, China (Feb. 18, 2022) – Competing in the first mass start of her career on the Olympic stage, Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wis./ National Guard Biathlon & USBA) went toe-to-toe with the world’s best biathletes to finish 23rd in the elite field of 30 on Friday as the Beijing 2022 Winter Games’ biathlon competition came to a close at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center. Irwin was 3 minutes, 24.1 seconds back with six penalties. “This has just been...

(Press Release) Egan and Dunklee Conclude Olympic Careers with 11th Place Relay

In the final Olympic race of their careers, Susan Dunklee (Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) and Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) helped guide the U.S. women to an 11th-place finish in Wednesday’s 4×6-kilometer relay at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. Three-time Olympian Dunklee was first out of the shooting range after prone, having cleaned all five targets. She also cleaned from the standing position but admittedly was sluggish on the skis and made...

(Press Release) U.S. Men Finish 13th in Frigid Beijing Biathlon Relay

The U.S. men’s team wrapped up their biathlon competition at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games on Tuesday with a 13th-place finish in the 4×7.5-kilometer relay. The lineup of Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H./National Guard Biathlon & USBA), Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minn./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA), Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis./Team Crosscut & USBA) and Leif Nordgren (Hinesburg, Vt./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) crossed the line 5 minutes, 42.8 seconds back with three penalties and 13 spares. The start of the relay...

(Press Release) Brown and Doherty Qualify for Olympic Pursuit

Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minn./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USABA) and Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) qualified for the first Olympic pursuit of their careers Saturday at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. Brown, competing in his first Olympic Games, and Doherty, racing in his third Games, both finished in the top-60 of the men’s 10-kilometer sprint at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center to achieve pursuit qualification. Brown shot clean from prone and had two...

(Press Release) U.S. Qualifies All Four Women for Olympic Pursuit

Susan Dunklee (Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) set the pace for the rest of the U.S. women’s team during Friday’s 7.5-kilometer sprint at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. Dunklee’s top-30 performance at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center led the way for all four American women to qualify for Sunday’s 10km pursuit, the first time that has happened in U.S. Biathlon Olympic history. She used clean shooting to finish 27th in the field of 89,...

(Press Release) In Race of Her Life, Deedra Irwin Posts Top Finish Ever by an American Biathlete

BEIJING, China (Feb. 5, 2022) – Things don’t always go according to plan, but occasionally someone can exceed even her wildest expectations. Such was the case for Deedra Irwin of Pulaski, Wisconsin, who on Monday turned in the best Olympic performance ever by an American biathlete, finishing seventh in the women’s 15-kilometer individual event at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre northwest of Beijing. “I was trying to focus on just working on everything I’ve worked on this week,”...

(Press Release) U.S. Equals Best Mixed Relay Finish at Olympics

BEIJING, China (Feb. 5, 2022) – The American quartet of Susan Dunklee Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA), Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA), Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) and Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis./Team Crosscut & USABA) finished seventh in the mixed relay Saturday as the Beijing 2020 Winter Games biathlon competition got underway at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center. The result tied the best-ever finish for Team USA in an Olympic mixed relay, equaling...

Olympic Biathlon Schedule & Who and How to Watch

Schedule All Times Eastern Standard Time Saturday, February 5th 4:00am EST – Men’s and Women’s Mixed Relay – Zhangjiakou, China Monday, February 7th 4:00am EST – Women’s 15k Individual – Zhangjiakou, China Tuesday, February 8th 3:30am EST – Men’s 20k Individual – Zhangjiakou, China Friday, February 11th 4:00am EST – Women’s 7.5k Sprint – Zhangjiakou, China Saturday, February 12th 4:00am EST – Men’s 10k Sprint – Zhangjiakou, China Sunday, February 13th 4:00am EST – Women’s...

(Press release) U.S. Women’s Relay Heads into Beijing with Best Finish in 28 Years

In the final women’s relay competition before the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, the 14th ranked U.S. Women’s Biathlon Team raced to a fifth-place finish in Saturday’s 4×6-kilometer event at the BMW IBU World Cup in Antholz. It marked the best relay finish for the women’s team in a World Cup since 1994 when the U.S. took the silver medal in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. However, today’s performance bettered that race 28 years ago in terms of time...

(Press Release) Clare Egan Fourth in Antholz

Antholz, ITA – US Biathlon Team and Craftsbury Green Racing Project athlete Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) grabbed the second-best finish of her career with a fourth place in Friday’s 15km Women’s Individual competition in Antholz, Italy. The result comes after Egan went home for Christmas and skipped the Oberhof World Cup to prepare for the Beijing Games. “The biggest challenge with my preparation has been staying positive and patient while I try to get my physical shape...

(Press Release) Schommer 9th In Antholz

U.S. Biathlon Team and Team Crosscut athlete Paul Schommer (Appleton, WI) on Thursday added to his already stellar season with the first top-10 performance of his career. Schommer, who earlier this season qualified for his first Olympic Winter Games, placed ninth in the 20km Men’s Individual race in Antholz, Italy under gusting conditions and on one of the more challenging 20km courses on the IBU World Cup. “Today’s approach was the same as it’s been...

Reid, Irwin, and Nordgren Round Out U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team Nominations

The U.S. Biathlon International Competition Committee nominated the final three athletes for the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team roster on Sunday following completion of the final trials events at the IBU Cup competition in Brezno-Osrblie, Slovakia. Nominated were Olympic veterans Leif Nordgren (Hinesburg, Vt./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) and Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, Colo.), along with Olympic newcomer Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wis./National Guard Biathlon & USBA). The trio joins previously nominated athletes Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minn./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA), Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H./National Guard Biathlon...

Sean Doherty Named to Third Olympic Team

Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) became the fifth biathlete to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. The discretionary selection was announced by the U.S. Biathlon International Competition Committee on Monday following Doherty’s dominating performance in the sprint and pursuit races at the U.S. Biathlon Olympic Trials held in Arber, Germany, Jan. 2-3. “Sean performed really well and kept his focus during two really challenging races,” said U.S. Biathlon Director of High Performance Lowell...

Youth & Junior Teams Named for Upcoming International Events

Seventeen youth and junior athletes have been selected to represent Team USA at upcoming international events, including the 2022 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in Soldier Hollow, Utah, Feb. 23-March 2. The U.S. Biathlon International Competition Committee announced the team selections on Friday following three days of trials at the Soldier Hollow venue in Midway, Utah, Dec. 28-31. “I want to thank Soldier Hollow for doing a great job in hosting these trials,” said U.S. Biathlon...

Jake Brown and Paul Schommer Qualify For U.S. Olympic Team

Biathletes Jake Brown (Saint Paul, Minn./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) and Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis./Team Crosscut & USBA) have qualified for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 by virtue of their performances at this season’s IBU World Cup events. It marks the first Olympic team for both as they join Olympic veterans Susan Dunklee(Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USABA) and Clare Egan(Cape Elizabeth, Maine/USBA) as early qualifiers. Dunklee and Egan qualified through their respective...

How to Watch the 2021-22 FIS Cross Country and IBU Biathlon World Cups

The long-awaited “how to watch” article is here. I hear you — the season is a week away. What took so long? Simply put, negotiating contracts with the various agencies that film and produce World Cup coverage is a complicated process. Olympic Channel announcer Chad Salmela used the word “cumbersome” to explain the process through which NBC secures the rights to these broadcasts. Cumbersome is not ideal when it comes to small niche sports that...