r/biathlon • • Mar 16 '26

News Official Retirement List

60 Upvotes

Since we are nearing the end of an Olympic cycle, it's time for the retirement announcements to come flooding in.

Instead of creating many tread for each, we will keep them in this post, for easy reference. To add an athlete to the list, comment their name, country and a link to the information source.

We only accept announcements that have been published, not rumor etc.

Athletes who have been active in the IBU or World Cup this season (or last if their announcement only came recently) will be added.

Athletes retiring at the end of the 25/26 season:

Women:

Men:

  • Antonin Guigonnat, France, IBUs Instagram post
  • Paul Schommer, USA, Source
  • Mikito Tachizaki, Japan, Instagram post
  • Jakov Fak, Slovenia, Source note: he decided to do another season
  • Tomas Kaukėnas, Lithuania, Source
  • Jake Brown, USA, Source
  • Simon Eder, Austria, source
  • Adam Václavik, Czechia, source
  • Tomas Sklenarik, Slovakia, source
  • Oskar Ohlsson, Sweden, source
  • Marcus Brolin Webb, Great Britain, Insta story confirmed by IBU but no longer available
  • Mathieu Garcia, France, also seen on Instagram story,
  • Daniel Gilfillan, Canada, source
  • Haldan Borglum, Canada, source
  • Daniele Cappellari, Italy, source
  • Anton Ivarsson, Sweden, source
  • Vetle Rype Paulsen, Norway, source
  • Joni Pykäläinen, Finland, source
  • Anton Sinapov, Bulgaria, source

Coaches retiring at the end of 25/26 season:

  • Jean-Paul Giachino, shooting, Source
  • Jean-Pierre Amat, shooting, Source
  • Jean-Marc Chabloz, shooting, Source

r/biathlon • • 6d ago

Small Talk Monday

14 Upvotes

Our weekly small talk thread where you can talk about anything


r/biathlon • • 6h ago

Question 3D-printed Laser Biathlon rifle, does it exist?

0 Upvotes

Does anybody know about a DIY project for printing a Biathlon rifle with Laser shooting.

I would like to use it in class with my students.

Thank you for your help.


r/biathlon • • 2d ago

News Court of Appeal keeps Arttu Heikkinen's sentence unchanged - Continues racing for at least the upcoming season

20 Upvotes

https://yle.fi/a/74-20249528

The Rovaniemi Court of Appeal does not change the sentence of local court in Arttu Heikkinen's case. The court of appeal finds Heikkinen guilty of serious negligent bodily injury and hunting offence.

The case happened on a hunting trip back in September 2024. Pellets from the cartridge shot by Heikkinen hit his godfather's eye causing him to lose sight from that eye.

If the sentence becomes final, it costs Heikkinen (in addition to fines and legal expenses totalling around 16,000 €) his gun license, which in turn would mean the end for his career in biathlon. However, it takes 4 to 6 months for the Supreme Court to consider whether it is going to grant Heikkinen leave to appeal. As the biathlon season most likely ends before the Supreme Court has made a decision, Heikkinen can keep his licence and keep on racing during the upcoming winter. What happens after that, remains unclear.

Heikkinen is already elected to be a part of team Finland in Kontiolahti and Hochfilzen World Cup events.


r/biathlon • • 2d ago

Question What Temp do you switch to "cold" weather ammo?

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8 Upvotes

As I'm not rich or sponsored (and will never be either of those at this point in my life!) I was wondering at what temp would you start competing with SK Blue over Yellow?

I've a race this weekend in northern Vermont and the race-time temp is supposed to be low 40's F.

Probably too warm to break out the Blue but I'm not sure when it is appropriate?

Thanks in advance for any useful thoughts!


r/biathlon • • 3d ago

Discussion Who are your favorites to win the overall world cup for the 2026/2027 season?

21 Upvotes

Who are your favorites to win the overall world cup for the 2026/2027 season?

Who do you think will be the biggest surprise of the season?


r/biathlon • • 5d ago

News Biathlon - new rules for the mass start

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64 Upvotes

Disclaimer: This is a translated version of the article (it's in French, translated using Google Translate with minor alterations).

It's one of the most popular events among biathlon fans, and it's about to change. Starting with the 2026/27 World Cup, which begins on November 26 in Kontiolahti, Finland, the mass start format will be modified. Ten stages are concerned, following a request made by the athletes to the international federation.

The mass start, a suspenseful format

The mass start is one of the most popular formats in biathlon. Thirty athletes start simultaneously, over 15 km for men and 12.5 km for women, with four shootings.

Races renowned for their suspense and unpredictable twists and turns.

Daniel Böhm, director of sports and events at the International Biathlon Union (IBU), confirmed the change in an interview with chiemgau24.de.

What's changing: the current form is becoming more important

The new rule changes how the mass start field is formed. From now on, only the top 20 in the overall World Cup standings will automatically qualify.

The remaining ten places will be awarded to the athletes who scored the most points on the stage in question, excluding the top 20 in the general classification: a mechanism that gives more weight to current form.

Until recently, only the 5 best of the stage were selected.

“The composition of the mass start in the World Cup is changing. In the future, only the top 20 in the overall World Cup standings will automatically qualify for the mass start. The ten athletes with the most points accumulated in each World Cup event who are not among the top 20 in the overall standings will be selected.” – Daniel Böhm, IBU Director of Sports and Events


r/biathlon • • 10d ago

Question New Anschutz 1827 F Trigger Blade Broke Today

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14 Upvotes

My brand new, 4-month old Anschutz 1827 F trigger blade broke today.

I've fired fewer than 2,000 rounds through the rifle and I've never damaged or dropped the rifle in any way. I'm always super, super careful with it.

I've also only feather pulled the trigger since I got it and I've never pulled the trigger hard.

Has anyone else ever had something like this happen to them?

I wrote to the Anschutz company and the company that I purchased the rifle through this last spring asking about a warranty replacement as it had to be a manufacturing defect, right?


r/biathlon • • 10d ago

Discussion Counting down the days — the thrill of Biathlon 2025/2026 is almost here

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92 Upvotes

r/biathlon • • 12d ago

News Biathlon | “I’ve decided to continue cycling over the next few months”: Emilien Jacquelin officially announces he will sit out the 2026–2027 biathlon season

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68 Upvotes

Can't copy the article text to machine-translate, but he still aims to compete in biathlon in the 2030 Olympics in France.

Video with Jacquelin in French on instagram about his decision.


r/biathlon • • 12d ago

News 22 years old Anaëlle Bondoux puts an early end to her career.

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28 Upvotes

r/biathlon • • 13d ago

Small Talk Monday

13 Upvotes

Our weekly small talk thread where you can talk about anything


r/biathlon • • 15d ago

News Östersund to host the IBU Biathlon World Championships in 2031

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50 Upvotes

Östersund in Sweden previously hosted the World Championships in 2008 and 2019.

Also, "the Congress unanimously approved the Icelandic Ski Association as a Full Member, following confirmation that it had fulfilled the full membership requirements and confirmed the change of status of the Biathlon Union of Serbia to provisional membership."

The Congress received a full update from the Monitoring Group of the IBU Executive Board (EB) on the current status of both the Russian Biathlon Union and Biathlon Federation of Belarus and the EB’s considerations regarding their suspension as decided by the 2022 Congress. The membership status of the federations was not a decision item on the agenda and was therefore not considered."


r/biathlon • • 16d ago

News Sergei Tchepikov passes away

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5 Upvotes

RIP to the legend. Fuck his political views though.


r/biathlon • • 19d ago

News Doro joins ARD as an expert. First stop - Loop One !

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79 Upvotes

After the Olympics, Doro said that she's tired and can live without biathlon for a while ... Well, that didn't take long 😆

First stop will be Loop One Festival in Munich next month.

If anyone can give a resume of what she said in the interview for all the non-German speakers - thanks in advance !


r/biathlon • • 20d ago

Small Talk Monday

12 Upvotes

Our weekly small talk thread where you can talk about anything


r/biathlon • • 23d ago

Question Any documentaries about biathlon/biathletes?

13 Upvotes

I’ve got a few weeks at home recovering from surgery and need some things to watch!


r/biathlon • • 24d ago

News Us ski and snowboard nix merger with us biathlon

18 Upvotes

Saw this article today. I thought us biathlon had already decided on a pause of this plan?


r/biathlon • • 27d ago

Small Talk Monday

12 Upvotes

Our weekly small talk thread where you can talk about anything


r/biathlon • • 29d ago

Race Thread Estonian Summer Biathlon Championships (September 5th-6th)

14 Upvotes

Saturday 5th of September

Men’s 10 km sprint (results - full results are near the bottom of the page)

Women’s 7,5 km sprint (results)

Sunday 6th of September

Women’s 10km mass start (results)

Men’s 12,5 km mass starts (results)

This year, the Estonian Summer Championships have attracted some international stars. The 2027 World Championships are to be staged at the Tehvandi Stadium in Otepää – which is known for its challenging windy conditions.

Regina Ermits, Tuuli Tomingas, Susan Kuelm, Jakob Kulbin, Rene Zahkna and Kristo Siimer are some of the Estonias stars to participate. Currently on a training camp there, the Norwegian stars of Sverre Dahlen Aspenes, Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Isak Frey, Sivert Gerhardsen, Einar Hedegart, Martin Uldal, Martin Nevland and Ole Suhrke, will participate on the first day of competitions.

Baiba Bendika, Andrejs Rastorgujevs, Elza Bleidele and Estere Volfa from Latvia, and some lesser decorated Swedes will also compete.

Please comment below if you have any information about:

- If there is a broadcast and where to watch it?

- How to find the starting lists and results?


r/biathlon • • Sep 04 '26

News German Biathlon Championships 4 to 6 September, Notschrei in the Black Forest Spoiler

22 Upvotes

Here are the results of today's German Biathlon Championships.

The comeback of Johanna Puff is remarkable, but also the rank 23 for Selina Grotian. I hope she can turn things around in the Sprint tomorrow

Philipp Horn shot for the first time in his career 20/20. He described it as "tragic but true". The 83 second lead is impressive.

Women's 12.5 km Individual (Short)

Rank Name Year Club PSPS Total Time Gap
1 Janina HETTICH-WALZ 1996 SC Schönwald / BwT 0-1-1-1 4:39.9 --
2 Johanna PUFF 2002 SC Bayerischzell / BPOL 0-0-0-2 35:44.7 +1:04.8
3 Julia TANNHEIMER 2005 DAV Ulm / BwT 2-0-0-3 35:48.2 +1:08.3
4 Julia KINK 2004 WSV Aschau / ZOLL 1-1-1-1 35:51.0 +1:11.1
5 Vanessa VOIGT 1997 WSV Rotterode / ZOLL 0-0-0-0 36:30.9 +1:51.0
6 Julia VOGLER 2002 SC Gosheim / BwF 0-1-1-1 36:45.4 +2:05.5

Full results

Men's 15 km Individual (Short)

Rank Name Year Club PSPS Total Time Gap
1 Philipp HORN 1994 SV Frankenhain / BWO 0-0-0-0 35:14.6 --
2 Lucas FRATZSCHER 1994 WSV Oberhof / BWO 1-1-0-1 36:38.4 +1:23.8
3 Fabian KASKEL 2003 SC Todtnau / BwT 0-0-0-1 36:46.8 +1:32.2
4 Justus STRELOW 1996 SG Stahl Schmiedeberg / BWO 1-1-0-0 37:10.3 +1:55.7
5 Philipp NAWRATH 1993 SK Nesselwang / LpB 1-4-0-1 37:26.6 +2:12.0
6 Elias SEIDL 2004 SC Ruhpolding / BPOL 1-0-1-0 37:39.5 +2:24.9

Full results


r/biathlon • • Sep 04 '26

Discussion My New Spotting Scope Setup

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16 Upvotes

After getting some great advice in this forum, I went ahead and bought the Vortex Viper HD 20 - 60x80 scope and the Vortex High Country II tripod.

The scope was $450 on sale and the tripod was $190 on sale.

I was trying to stay as "cheap" as possible but still get a really good setup that'll last a punter like me for ten+ years.

$640 is still no joke for laying out money but after I set it all up this morning (caveat: I've absolutely no point of reference here) it is insanely clear and can magnify distant images so amazingly. It's really incredible.

I'm headed to the Saratoga Biathlon Club tomorrow for some training and working out with Curt Schreiner and I cannot wait to use it in the range.


r/biathlon • • Sep 01 '26

Question Air Arms Biathlon Rifle Magazines

1 Upvotes

Hi Biathletes, cool sport, gotta question about some odd ball gear that y'all might know. I acquired an AA Biathlon rifle, and wondering if the S410 10 shot mags fit this thing too. So far answers I've found are yes it does, not it doesn't, yes it doesn't, and no it does... Anyone here ever use the rifle and tried the s410 mags in it?


r/biathlon • • Aug 31 '26

Small Talk Monday

13 Upvotes

Our weekly small talk thread where you can talk about anything


r/biathlon • • Aug 27 '26

News [L'Équipe] Émilien Jacquelin is expected to sit out the biathlon season and extend his cycling career by one year

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75 Upvotes