In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Biathlon Union (IBU) 2018 Youth and Junior World Championships in Otepää, Estonia, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 19-year-old Chloe Levins, who is representing the United States at her first Junior World Championships. She previously represented the U.S. at Youth World Championships, including a fourth-place finish in the pursuit last season. Levins also made the short list of the U.S. Olympic Team and competed on the IBU Cup as part of Olympic Trials.
On Thursday, Levins placed sixth to lead her team in the junior women’s 12.5 k individual (+3:37.4 with three penalties).
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“My full name is Chloe Levins but you can call me Chlo.
I was raised in Vermont, and I learned to ski by following my three older siblings.
I spent the time before Worlds in school at Middlebury College.
The most memorable workout I did in the last training year to prepare for this was skiing with my coach. He doesn’t ski often, so it’s really special when he chooses to ski with me.
One thing I’m working on this season to improve my biathlon is (and probably always will be) my patience.
This is my first time in Estonia and fourth year racing internationally, and so far it’s been real winter with temperatures in the single digits (F) and falling snow.
One difference I’ve noticed between Estonia and the United States is the lack of fruit.
One of the things I’m most excited about for World Junior Championships in Otepää is experiencing a new world-class venue.
One race I’m especially targeting there is the next one.
Watching the Olympics in the leadup to my own races was hard to do at school. One of the most memorable moments of the Games was when Jessie Diggins overtook Stina Nilsson to earn US Women’s XC Skiing their first ever Olympic medal. I want to ski like Jessie, because she skis with more heart than anyone I’ve ever seen.
At Worlds, I really hope I can practice speaking German with my friends from Deutschland.
My favorite thing at the breakfast where we are staying is the lemon ginger tea.
Before this trip, if you said “Estonia”, the first thing I’d think of would have been the cold temperatures.
Now that I’m here, I’m pretty sure something I’ll always remember will be the cold temperatures.
If I had a totally free day here and didn’t have to worry about race fitness or training, I’d still spend it on skis.
The best way to follow me on social media is on Instagram @chlolevins or SnapChat @chlevins.”
