Biathlon
Biathlon: Vebjørn Sørum turns to Drammen’s “miracle man” Tom Skjønnhaug to fix back problems
December 08, 2025 / NRK Sport
Norwegian biathlete Vebjørn Sørum has struggled with recurring back issues that forced him to drop out of the Geilo season opener. He has spent two weeks in intensive treatment with 79‑year‑old massage therapist Tom Skjønnhaug, known for helping top athletes, and reports major improvement and new techniques for activation and mobility. Sørum aims to return to the World Cup in Hochfilzen on December 12 as he fights for a spot on Norway’s Olympic team.
Dropped from the World Cup opener — now biathlete Johannes Dale-Skjevdal gets a key Olympic chance in Hochfilzen
December 08, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
Norway has named its teams for the upcoming World Cup round in Hochfilzen, recalling Johannes Dale-Skjevdal after three straight wins in the IBU Cup. With Olympic selection for Milano–Cortina 2026 looming, the Hochfilzen races are billed as an important audition; Vebjørn Sørum also returns after back issues, while Isak Leknes Frey and Endre Strømsheim make way. On the women’s side, Åsne Skrede is set for her World Cup debut after strong results in the IBU Cup and at Norway’s season opener in Geilo.
Biathlete Franziska Preuß tests positive for COVID-19, doubtful for Hochfilzen World Cup
December 08, 2025 / Sportschau
Germany’s biathlon world champion Franziska Preuß has been diagnosed with both influenza and COVID-19 and is uncertain for the second World Cup round in Hochfilzen. She withdrew from sprint and pursuit races in Östersund due to illness after underperforming in the relay and individual. Following successful sinus surgery and a medal-rich 2024/25 season, she now hopes to recover quickly with the Olympic biathlon events in Antholz looming.
Flunger on Hauser: “We’ll still talk about this victory in 20 years”
December 08, 2025 / Kronen Zeitung (krone.at)
Austrian biathlete Lisa Hauser made history by winning the World Cup pursuit in Östersund, completing victories in all four individual biathlon disciplines in her career. Her longtime Salzburg coach Sandra Flunger praised a ‘perfect’ race and reflected on the difficult recent years for Hauser, emotionally celebrating with her at the finish. The team now looks ahead to their home races in Hochfilzen.
Biathlon World Cup opener in Östersund: Germans off the pace
December 08, 2025 / Sportschau
Germany’s biathletes had a subdued start to the Olympic season in Östersund, collecting only two fourths, three eighths and one tenth place across individual and relay events and missing all podiums. Sporting director Felix Bitterling downplayed concerns, citing difficulty combining clean shooting and fast skiing on the same day, while athletes like Philipp Nawrath and Philipp Horn reflected contrasting form profiles. On the women’s side, Franziska Preuß struggled and fell ill, Julia Tannheimer showed speed but too many penalties in pursuit, and Vanessa Voigt climbed 22 places; the team targets rebounds in Hochfilzen with an eye on peaking for Antholz 2026.
Biathlon: Sebastian Samuelsson takes second in Östersund pursuit after late drama
December 07, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sebastian Samuelsson finished second in the men’s pursuit in Östersund after a tense final shooting and sprint. Quentin Fillon Maillet won by 6.7 seconds after cleaning the last shooting, while Johan-Olav Botn was third. Among the Swedes, Martin Ponsiluoma placed 12th, Malte Stefansson 15th, Viktor Brandt 25th, Jesper Nelin 42nd and Melker Nordgren 51st.
Winter sports: Another podium for Anna Magnusson – third in the Östersund pursuit
December 07, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Anna Magnusson claimed third place in the women’s pursuit at the Biathlon World Cup in Östersund, following up her sprint podium two days earlier. Austria’s Lisa Hauser won after a strong final lap to overtake early leader Suvi Minkkinen, while Sweden’s Hanna Öberg surged 50 places to finish ninth.
Östersund pursuit: Giacomel just misses the podium as France’s Fillon Maillet wins
December 07, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel finished fourth in the men’s pursuit at the Östersund IBU World Cup opener after a last-standing miss denied him a podium. Quentin Fillon Maillet took the victory ahead of Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson and Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn, with Campbell Wright sixth and Lukas Hofer 16th. In the women’s pursuit, Lisa Vittozzi placed 11th and Dorothea Wierer, hampered by back issues late on, slipped after reaching the top six; Austria’s Lisa Hauser won ahead of Suvi Minkkinen and Anna Magnusson.
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Johan-Olav Botn after a dream week in Östersund: “A bit of a new situation for me”
December 07, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn capped a superb week in Östersund with third place in the men’s pursuit after winning the sprint the day before and claiming his first-ever World Cup victory in the earlier individual. He described the pursuit as tough with slow conditions and admitted mixed feelings at the finish, but said he was increasingly satisfied afterwards. With about two months to the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Botn leads the overall World Cup and is firmly in contention for a Norwegian team spot.
Biathlon: Lisa Hauser wins pursuit in Östersund
December 07, 2025 / Krone.at
Austria’s Lisa Hauser claimed her first World Cup victory in three years by winning the women’s 10 km pursuit in Östersund. Starting 4th after the sprint, she shot a perfect 20/20 and caught Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen after the final shooting, winning by 2.5 seconds; Sweden’s Anna Magnusson was third. It is Hauser’s sixth career World Cup win and her first since the Annecy mass start in 2022.
Comment: Norway’s young biathlon coach is a model — Finland should look to Norway for its next cross-country head coach too
December 06, 2025 / Yle
Yle’s Pekka Holopainen argues that Norway’s 27‑year‑old Erik Torneus Kulstad has transformed Finland’s biathlon program beyond expectations and that Finnish cross-country skiing should similarly recruit its next head coach from Norway. With Teemu Pasanen departing and veterans like Krista Pärmäkoski retiring, Finland faces a rebuild before Lahti 2029, making an external, Norwegian hire especially attractive.
Sprint in Östersund: Giacomel 8th at +38.3; Vittozzi and Wierer face a one-minute deficit for the Pursuit
December 06, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
At the Östersund IBU World Cup sprints, Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen and Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn took the wins. Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi and Dorothea Wierer each missed two targets and will start the Pursuit about one minute behind, while Tommaso Giacomel finished 8th at 38.3 seconds and is well placed to move up. Sunday’s Pursuit races are scheduled for 13:15 (women 10 km) and 15:20 (men 12.5 km).