2022-2023 Season Recap
Just wanted to offer some thoughts and take aways from the recently completed 2022-2023 IBU World Cup season. There was so much that happened that this might take me a month of two to get done so keep checking back! We’ll start off by checking out the amazing seasons of our Overall Globe Champs. We’ll examine some breakthrough athletes, some Rookies of the Year, and a few athletes that had some career seasons! We’ll finish up with just a few stories that I enjoyed this season. Hope you enjoy!
1.JT Bø: Is he the Greatest Ever? Or the Best?
His name is Joahnnes Thingnes Bø. You may have heard of him. In fact you probably have heard a lot about him. And while you’ve been hearing a lot about him you’ve probably heard even more about him this season than almost ever before. For good reason though. He’s been on an insane tear, just dominating the season in historic fashion. Bø has been so amazing that the question is being asked more loudly every weekend: Is JT Bø the best male biathlete of all time
Continue reading: JT Bø: Is he the Greatest Ever? Or the Best?
Before the start of the 2022-2023 IBU World Cup season it already felt like there was a moment of generational change getting ready to take place in the women’s field. It felt like none of the recent Overall Crystal Globe winners would be willing or able to compete for the title again. Tiril Eckhoff and Marte Olsbu Røiseland weren’t ready to start the season. While Røiseland would eventually rejoin the circuit after missing the three weekends of racing, sadly Eckhoff never returned. Dorothea Wierer just seemed to be in a different place in her career. After winning back to back globes she had finished 5th and 9th in the Overall standings and seemed to be prioritizing Olympic and World Championship medals along with the occasional race win over another run at the Overall. The door was open for a new champion.
Continue reading: Julia Simon The Champion
3. Breakthrough Women of 2022-2023
One of my favorite parts of a biathlon season is watching the improvements that occur. Of course there is the fun in watching the races and seeing who wins and who loses. There is also something really exciting about an athlete reaching their potential or finding a level that you didn’t know was even possible. So this pieces is dedicated to those athletes who achieved that this season!
Continue reading: Breakthrough Women of 2022-2023
4. Breakthrough Men of 2022-2023
One of my favorite parts of a biathlon season is watching the improvements that occur. Of course there is the fun in watching the races and seeing who wins and who loses. There is also something really exciting about an athlete reaching their potential or finding a level that you didn’t know was even possible. So this pieces is dedicated to those athletes who achieved that this season!
Continue reading: Breakthrough Men of 2022-2023
It’s that time of year where we celebrate those athletes who made the biggest impressions on us. We already celebrated JT Bø’s historic season, Julia Simon’s championship year, and the breakout men and women of the 2022-2023 campaign. Now it is time to celebrate the rookies who gave us a first look at their future potential!
For the men this season it was a bit of slim pickings. There really weren’t any great rookies that came in and made a major impact right away. In fact it was a lot of middle range performances. This isn’t to take anything away from these men as they still have bright futures ahead and they had some great races this season. Just that unlike the women no splashy rookie performances. It’s the athletes like this though that make biathlon such a great sport.
Continue reading: Men’s Rookies of the Year
6. Women’s Rookies of the Year
The 2022-2023 season was another great season for rookies joining the World Cup level. The women especially had a ton of athletes come up and have success immediately. I had to keep double checking to make sure these women fit my qualifications for “rookie” because there were so many. I even moved Lou Jeanmonnot and Hanna Kebinger to my break out athlete piece because I had so many here!
Continue reading: Women’s Rookies of the Year
Old Commentaries:
2022-2023 Season:
1. 2022-2023 Season Preview
2. 2022-2023 First Trimester Review
3. 2022-2023 Pre Worlds Thoughts
2021-2022 Season:
1. 2021-2022 First Trimester Recap
2. 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Preview
3. 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Coverage and Wrap Up
4. 2021-2022 Season Wrap Up
2020-2021 Season:
Team USA’s Historic Relay
Is JT Bø Biathlon’s Peter Sagan?
Closing Strong
Penalty Loop 