Biathlon
Martin Ponsiluoma’s advice to Sweden’s cross-country skiers: “They’d benefit from doing it like we do”
December 01, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish biathlete Martin Ponsiluoma contrasts the Swedish biathlon team’s centralized training model with the cross-country team’s split pre-season approach. He and teammate Sebastian Samuelsson argue that training together under one head coach fosters cohesion and mutual push, suggesting parts of the men’s cross-country squad could gain from more joint camps and a stronger group focus. The piece highlights biathlon head coach Johannes Lukas’s overarching role versus cross-country’s more individualized setups and high-altitude camps with only partial team attendance.
Biathlon: Sweden’s boost — Elvira Öberg returns: “I feel fit and healthy”
December 01, 2025 / SVT Sport
Elvira Öberg confirms she has recovered from illness and will start Tuesday’s 15 km individual at the Biathlon World Cup opener in Östersund. She says she feels “fit and healthy” but will see how her body responds, noting focus on the shooting range will be decisive. Öberg had missed the weekend’s home World Cup races due to sickness.
Biathlon World Cup Östersund: Hauser/Eder finish 5th in single mixed relay
November 30, 2025 / krone.at
Austria’s Lisa Hauser and Simon Eder opened the Östersund Biathlon World Cup with 5th place in the single mixed relay. Eder shot clean, while Hauser used four spares; they finished 19 seconds off the podium as Sweden won ahead of Norway and France. In the mixed relay, the Austrian quartet of Fredrik Mühlbacher, David Komatz, Anna Juppe and Anna Gandler placed 9th, while France took the win ahead of Italy and Norway. The week ahead in Östersund features individual, sprint and pursuit races.
Biathlon: Linn Gestblom returns to the World Cup after 682 days
November 30, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Linn Gestblom made her World Cup comeback in Östersund after nearly two years away, missing just one shot on her mixed relay leg. While Jesper Nelin and Martin Ponsiluoma incurred penalty loops, Gestblom’s solid shooting impressed SVT’s Björn Ferry and expert Mona Brorsson, who even floated Olympic potential. Gestblom won’t race further in Östersund as she prioritizes shoulder rehab; Hanna Öberg anchored Sweden from 10th to 7th place.
Biathlon: Swedish mixed relay turns into a nightmare: “Just want to forget it”
November 30, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden finished seventh in the Östersund mixed relay after penalty loops by Jesper Nelin and Martin Ponsiluoma left the team too far back to contend. Ponsiluoma called his leg a “nightmare,” while the women steadied the result as Linn Gestblom returned to the World Cup after 682 days and Hanna Öberg closed strongly. France won ahead of Italy, with Norway third.
Two penalty loops too many for Germany in Östersund mixed relay
November 30, 2025 / Sportschau
France won the Biathlon World Cup mixed relay in Östersund ahead of Italy and Norway, while Germany finished eighth after two penalty loops by Simon Kaiser and anchor Julia Tannheimer. Start leg Justus Strelow put Germany in front after a clean standing stage, Janina Hettich‑Walz gained a bit back on leg three, but Tannheimer’s standing penalty ended top‑five hopes. The piece also notes Germany’s earlier fourth places in the men’s relay and single mixed, and lists the upcoming Östersund World Cup schedule.
Finland achieve best-ever mixed relay result in biathlon; Mäkäräinen praises quartet
November 30, 2025 / Yle Urheilu
Finland finished fourth in the mixed relay at the Östersund Biathlon World Cup, the nation's best result ever in this event. France won ahead of Italy and Norway, while Suvi Minkkinen secured fourth in a sprint finish over Czechia’s Markéta Davidová. The live blog also covered other Nordic events in Ruka, including canceled ski jumping due to wind, cross-country mass starts won by Harald Østberg Amundsen and Jonna Sundling, and Nordic combined where Eero Hirvonen placed fifth.
Biathlon: Swedish triumph — Sebastian Samuelsson and Ella Halvarsson win single mixed relay in Östersund
November 30, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sebastian Samuelsson and Ella Halvarsson won the single mixed relay World Cup in Östersund after both shot clean in key stages and controlled the race from the front. Halvarsson held her nerve on the final leg despite two misses in the last shooting, skiing Sweden to victory 19.1 seconds ahead of Norway, with France third. The duo praised each other’s composure, calling the performance world‑class.
German duo narrowly miss the podium in Östersund Single Mixed Relay
November 30, 2025 / Sportschau (ARD)
At the Biathlon World Cup opener in Östersund, Germany’s Marlene Fichtner and Lucas Fratzscher finished fourth in the single mixed relay, just 0.4 seconds off the podium. Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson and Ella Halvarsson dominated to win ahead of Norway (Sturla Holm Lægreid/Maren Kirkeeide) and France (Camille Bened/Fabien Claude). Fichtner and Fratzscher used only three spare rounds total and were in podium position late before Bened edged Fichtner on the finishing straight.
Biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid blasts faulty thigh start numbers in Östersund: “It was a catastrophe”
November 30, 2025 / NRK Sport
During the Östersund World Cup, adhesive thigh start numbers repeatedly fell off athletes’ suits, prompting sharp criticism from Norway’s Sturla Holm Lægreid and others. The IBU acknowledged the problem and said partners will produce better stickers as soon as possible and seek a same‑week solution. Athletes including Éric Perrot, Tommaso Giacomel and Lukas Hofer warned the loose numbers could hinder speed or even cause falls, while Norway prepares for mixed relay events later the same day.
Italy opens the Biathlon World Cup with women’s relay silver in Östersund
November 29, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
Italy’s women claimed second place in the season‑opening World Cup relay in Östersund, finishing 13.8 seconds behind France. The quartet of Dorothea Wierer, Michela Carrara, Lisa Vittozzi, and Hannah Auchentaller shot solidly—despite a penalty loop for Carrara—and skied strongly to beat the Czech Republic and Sweden. Germany and Norway finished well back, while Italy’s men placed sixth.
Biathlon: France win women’s relay amid team controversies: “Not important”
November 29, 2025 / SVT Sport
France’s women won the World Cup relay in Östersund despite ongoing internal controversies. Jeanne Richard switched to French when asked about reports she tried to tamper with teammate Océane Michelon’s rifle, calling them “rumors,” while Justine Braisaz‑Bouchet declined to revisit the separate Julia Simon credit‑card case, saying she focuses on performance and family. The French federation previously confirmed a “breach of team rules” that led to a summer suspension, and Simon had already received a suspended sentence and federation ban earlier in the fall.