Biathlon
Olympics in Germany? Ex-biathlon star shares clear stance
October 24, 2025 / SPORT1
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is pursuing a bid to bring the Olympic Games back to Germany. Former biathlon world champion Benedikt Doll voices a clear opinion on the potential bid, weighing its pros and cons for the country and winter sports. The clip is a short video segment in SPORT1’s media library.
French media: Julia Simon admits facts in fraud case, receives suspended sentence and fine
October 24, 2025 / NRK Sport
French biathlon star Julia Simon appeared in court in Albertville and admitted the facts in a fraud and theft case involving teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and two others. She was found guilty and sentenced to three months’ suspended prison and a €15,000 fine. The French Ski Federation says a disciplinary committee will reconvene, while the case could affect Simon’s national team status less than four months before the 2026 Olympics.
Biathlete Julia Simon convicted — receives suspended sentence and fine for fraud and theft
October 24, 2025 / SVT Sport
France’s biathlon star Julia Simon pleaded guilty to theft and fraud and was sentenced to a three‑month suspended prison term and a €15,000 fine. The case stems from 2022 allegations that she used teammate Justine Braisaz‑Bouchet’s bank card, with investigators reportedly identifying two additional victims. The French Ski Federation’s disciplinary body will reconvene, and Simon could face suspension from the national team despite winning four world titles earlier this year and being a leading medal hope for the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Olympics.
German biathlete Anna Weidel: “Without the Olympics ahead, I probably would have retired”
October 24, 2025 / SPORT1
In a short video interview at Munich’s Loop One Festival, Germany’s Anna Weidel discusses her goals for the coming season and says having the Olympics on the horizon is a key reason she continues her career. She reflects that without that motivation she likely would have quit, and she outlines her aims as the international season approaches.
Break-up for German biathlon star Philipp Nawrath and Norway’s Karoline Offigstad Knotten
October 24, 2025 / SPORT1
German biathlete Philipp Nawrath and Norwegian biathlete Karoline Offigstad Knotten have ended their relationship, both confirming the split to Norwegian outlet TV2. Knotten, who was excluded from Norway’s national team training group in the spring, has been preparing independently—largely in France—for the Olympic winter, and says she is satisfied with her form. Biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen called her situation “not optimal,” but believes it could be a positive reset.
“Cool how she did it”: Austrian biathlete praises Franziska Preuß
October 23, 2025 / SPORT1
Austria’s Anna Gandler reflects on the health problems that forced her to end last season early and speaks at Munich’s Loop One Festival about how difficult that period was. She also explains why Germany’s Franziska Preuß, last season’s overall World Cup winner, is her role model, praising how Preuß handled her comeback and success.
Biathlon: Campbell Wright blasts European rivals for “fake professionalism”
October 23, 2025 / NRK Sport
U.S. biathlete Campbell Wright criticizes many European competitors for being overly uptight before races, calling it “fake professionalism” and questioning whether it’s healthy. Norwegian reactions are mixed: Vebjørn Sørum and Sturla Holm Lægreid partly agree, while Isak Leknes Frey disagrees and prefers staying in his own bubble; France’s Fabien Claude stresses everyone should be respected for different approaches. Wright, who won world silver medals in Lenzerheide behind Johannes Thingnes Bø, says he’s sometimes frowned upon for joking pre‑start but finds some Norwegians relaxed and fun.
Biathlon: Campbell Wright criticizes European rivals for “fake professionalism”
October 23, 2025 / NRK Sport
U.S. biathlete Campbell Wright says many European competitors adopt a counterproductive, uptight persona before races, calling it “fake professionalism.” His remarks on the podcast “Skirious problems” drew mixed reactions: Norway’s Vebjørn Sørum and Sturla Holm Lægreid partly agreed, while Isak Leknes Frey and France’s Fabien Claude disagreed, emphasizing individual approaches and focus. Wright, a double silver medalist at the Lenzerheide World Championships behind Johannes Thingnes Bø, says some athletes become withdrawn and even ill from stress, and questions whether that mentality is healthy.
Biathlon: How the 2025/26 World Cup season will run
October 22, 2025 / SVT Sport
SVT lays out the full 2025/26 IBU World Cup calendar, opening in Östersund in late November and closing in Oslo in late March, with stops including Hochfilzen, Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, Oberhof, Ruhpolding, Nové Město, Kontiolahti and Otepää. The piece also lists Sweden’s national team roster for the season and recaps the 2024/25 overall titles won by Sturla Holm Lægreid and Franziska Preuß, along with Swedish athletes’ standings.
50,000 fans in Munich as biathlon moves into the city — Austrian star thrilled
October 21, 2025 / Kronen Zeitung (krone.at)
Austrian biathlete Anna Gandler praised a test event at Munich’s Olympic Park that drew around 50,000 spectators, part of the IBU’s push to stage urban biathlon shows to reach new audiences. The Loop One Festival showcased biathlon without snow in a city setting, and Gandler called it a “cool event with brutally many spectators.”
Vittozzi: “I missed the whole biathlon family”
October 20, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport (Video)
Italian biathlete Lisa Vittozzi shares her emotions after winning at the Loop One Festival, the first edition of a biathlon event held in Munich. In a brief video interview, she says she missed the community around the sport and expresses joy at being back with the biathlon family.
Strelow third as Vittozzi, Perrot win at IBU LOOP ONE biathlon showcase in Munich’s Olympic Park
October 20, 2025 / Sportschau (BR regional)
France’s Eric Perrot and Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi won the ‘IBU LOOP ONE’ festival super sprints staged on a city course in Munich’s Olympic Park, cheered by roughly 11,000 spectators. Germany’s Justus Strelow took third in the men’s 10 km behind Perrot and Norway’s Isac Frey, while Anna Weidel finished fourth in the women’s race behind Vittozzi and Swedes Johanna Skottheim and Anna Magnusson. The event was a preseason exhibition with no World Cup points awarded.