This season I want to try something a little bit different. I wanted to look at who had improved the most this season. In biathlon there are three primary statistics that athletes, coaches and fans look at: Ski Speed, Shooting Accuracy, and Shooting Speed. Now that’s not to say there aren’t other things. Range speedContinue reading “2025-2026 Most Improved”
Author Archives: penaltyloop8853
2026 Coaching Carousel
It’s that time of the year again. The season is freshly concluded and coaching carousel begins. The end of an Olympic season is, for obvious reasons, results in the most crowded carousel every four years. Some coaches are looking for new challenges. Some teams are looking to turn the page. This season we have eachContinue reading “2026 Coaching Carousel”
Rookies of the Year
It was another great year for young biathletes! We saw a large number of them pop up in the piece on Career Best Seasons. However, there are even more that didn’t qualify for that because they are true rookies! It’s time to give these young men and women their due! I am basically defining rookiesContinue reading “Rookies of the Year”
Career Best Seasons
One of my favorite parts of a biathlon season is watching the improvements that occur. There is also something really exciting about an athlete reaching their potential or finding a level that you didn’t know was even possible for them. This pieces is dedicated to those athletes who achieved that this season! Breakthroughs come inContinue reading “Career Best Seasons”
You Won Suvi
At the conclusion of the final race of the women’s World Cup season there are a lot of emotions. Joy for another good race. Exuberance for a season of accomplishments. Tears of both joy and sadness with retirements of beloved athletes and coaches. And in one case, tears of plain old sadness. Suvi Minkkinen quietlyContinue reading “You Won Suvi”
Sterling Sturla
It was late in the 4th lap of the Men’s Pursuit in Holmenkollen. Sturla Holm Lægred and Eric Perrot were locked in a tense battle. Although the Overall Globe competition had already been decided there was still a battle for pride. Eric Perrot and his 2025-2026 Overall Globe vs Sturla Holm Lægred, the defending OverallContinue reading “Sterling Sturla”
2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics
Nations Medal Table Nations Medals France 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥈🥉🥉🥉 Norway 🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥉🥉🥉 Sweden 🥇🥈🥉 Italy 🥇🥈 Germany 🥉 Bulgaria 🥉 Finland 🥉 Athletes (non-relay) Medal Table Athlete Medals Sturla Holm Laegreid 🥈🥈🥉🥉 Maren Kirkeeide 🥇🥈 Quentin Fillon Maillet 🥇🥉 Lou Jeanmonnot 🥈🥉 Johannes Dale-Skjevdal 🥇 Martin Ponsiluoma 🥇 Lisa Vittozzi 🥇 Julia Simon 🥇 Johan-Olav Botn 🥇 VetleContinue reading “2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics”
How To Win The Overall
Over the last few weeks I’ve talked on social media and on the podcast about how the peak form that Sturla Holm Lægreid showed over the last month was the best biathlon we saw from any individual athlete this season. But….at the end of the day he’s not defending his title is he? Why isContinue reading “How To Win The Overall”
Our Beloved Champion
Name a more likable biathlete than Lou Jeanmonnot. I’m serious. Name one. We are blessed that in this era of biathlon we have many men and women who bring us joy. They make us smile win or otherwise. But names one that is more likable than Ms. Jeanmonnot. She must have an approval rating nearingContinue reading “Our Beloved Champion”
Oslo-Holmenkollen 2025-2026 Preview
Dates: March 19, 2026 – March 22, 2026 Schedule: Thursday March 19th: Women’s 7.5km SprintFriday March 20th: Men’s 10km SprintSaturday March 21st: Women’s 10km Pursuit + Men’s 12.5km PursuitSunday March 22nd: Women’s 12.5km Mass Start + Men’s 15km Mass Start Course Overview: In the above pictures you see the courses and profiles for in order:–Continue reading “Oslo-Holmenkollen 2025-2026 Preview”