Biathlon
Biathlon: Austria’s Lara Wagner finishes bloodied after crash in Munich final
October 19, 2025 / SVT Sport
During the women’s rollerski biathlon final in Munich, Austria’s Lara Wagner collided with Norway’s Karoline Offigstad Knotten while both entered the penalty loop after the first shooting. Wagner, bleeding from the face, crossed the line last. SVT expert and former biathlete Mona Brorsson called the incident unsettling and noted the penalty-loop area was chaotic and even the mat appeared to break.
Vittozzi triumphs: Lisa wins the Loop One Festival in Munich
October 19, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi dominated the Loop One Festival biathlon event in Munich, leading her qualifying heat clean and then controlling a 15-athlete final despite two standing misses. She beat Sweden’s Johanna Skottheim and Anna Magnusson, while fellow Italian Michela Carrara was eliminated in the heats. In the men’s race, France’s Éric Perrot took the win.
Biathlon rollerski success in Munich: Double Swedish podium
October 19, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Johanna Skottheim and Anna Magnusson finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s final of a rollerski biathlon event in Munich, behind Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi. All three missed two shots, but Vittozzi’s faster shooting proved decisive. In the men’s final, France’s Eric Perrot won, with Sweden’s Viktor Brandt placing sixth after four misses.
Biathlon: Viktor Brandt shines in Munich despite lost luggage chaos
October 19, 2025 / SVT Sport
Ahead of a rollerski biathlon event in Munich, Swedish athletes’ bags failed to arrive, forcing them to borrow equipment. Viktor Brandt still delivered a standout qualifying performance, finishing second in his heat with perfect, rapid shooting, while big names like Sturla Holm Lægreid and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal trailed him. Martin Ponsiluoma, Jesper Nelin and Oscar Andersson missed the final; on the women’s side, Anna Magnusson and Johanna Skottheim advanced after placing 1–2 in their heat.
Biathlon in Munich: “Everything is set for a real festival!”
October 18, 2025 / Kronen Zeitung (krone.at)
The IBU is staging a world‑first urban biathlon event in Munich’s Olympic Park, where 60 women and 60 men will race a super sprint on roller skis before thousands of spectators. Top stars including overall World Cup holder Sturla Holm Lægreid will compete, with Austria fielding Simon Eder, David Komatz, Patrick Jakob, Lisa Hauser, Anna Gandler and Lara Wagner. The festival features fan activities such as a meet‑and‑greet with legends Magdalena Neuner and Arnd Peiffer and a concert by chart artist Kamrad.
“Ciao and bye”: Austrian biathlete Felix Leitner retires at 28
October 17, 2025 / krone.at
Austrian biathlete Felix Leitner has announced his retirement at age 28, citing a lack of joy, insufficient support after being dropped from ÖSV squads in May, and a recent back surgery that made a 2026 Olympic push unrealistic. A former triple youth and junior world champion and 2018 European champion, Leitner says the last three years were an uphill battle, including unresolved equipment issues. He thanked supporters and said his next step will be outside of biathlon—for now.
Companion reveals new tragic details about Laura Dahlmeier’s death
October 17, 2025 / krone.at
Marina Krauss, the climbing partner of former biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier, has shared new details about the fatal accident on Pakistan’s Laila Peak. The pair turned back due to worsening snow and rising rockfall risk; during an abseil, large rocks struck Dahlmeier, leaving her unresponsive with a shattered helmet as rescue attempts failed. Krauss issued a distress call, but Dahlmeier’s body could not be retrieved, confirming the family’s earlier reports.
Austrian biathlete Felix Leitner explains retirement and criticizes federation
October 17, 2025 / SPORT1
Felix Leitner, 28, has retired from biathlon after a herniated disc and surgery made an Olympic return unrealistic. In an interview, he says he lost joy and motivation amid what he describes as systemic problems in Austria’s biathlon setup, including staff turnover and equipment issues since Beijing 2022, and being dropped from all ÖSV squads for 2025/26. He cites career highlights like an Oberhof 2021 mass start podium and a top‑10 at the 2022 Olympics, but says he now needs distance from the sport.
How Norway’s biathlon stars will travel to Munich in unusual fashion
October 17, 2025 / SPORT1
Norway’s top biathletes will helicopter from their altitude camp in Lavazè, Italy, to Munich for the inaugural IBU Loop One Festival at the Olympic Park. Sturla Holm Lægreid says the one‑hour, ~200 km flight—costing €14,000 round‑trip for two helicopters and funded by IBU appearance fees—was the only way to attend without compromising their Olympic‑focused high‑altitude block. The festival features ski‑roller races with heats and finals six weeks before the World Cup opener.
Tragedy on Laila Peak — Laura Dahlmeier’s father: “Body untraceable”
October 16, 2025 / krone.at
More than two months after former biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier died in a rockfall while descending Pakistan’s Laila Peak, her father says her body cannot be recovered. A renewed search led by climber Thomas Huber failed to locate her remains, which are presumed to be buried under debris at the base of the summit wall.
Norwegian biathletes ‘forced’ to take a helicopter — contradicting their own sustainability goals
October 16, 2025 / NRK Sport
Norway’s biathlon team will charter helicopters from their altitude camp in Lavazè, Italy, to Munich for the inaugural IBU “Loop One” show race, saying the schedule leaves them no choice if they want to protect their Olympic build‑up. The plan, costing €14,000 round trip and funded by IBU appearance fees, clashes with the federation’s stated aim to cut emissions, but leaders argue altitude optimization takes precedence this time. Sturla Holm Lægreid and sport director Per Arne Botnan acknowledge the contradiction, noting the team has made other greener choices during the season.
Loop One Festival brings biathlon to the heart of Munich
October 16, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
Munich’s Olympic Park will host the first Loop One Festival on October 18–19, an urban biathlon event on rollerskis designed to bring the sport to a wider audience. Saturday features para biathlon and youth races, while Sunday’s super sprint finals include World Cup stars, with over 9,000 grandstand tickets already sold. Italy plans to field Lisa Vittozzi, Michela Carrara, Tommaso Giacomel, Lukas Hofer, Didier Bionaz, Daniele Cappellari, and possibly Dorothea Wierer.