After the Olympics, it is clear that several biathlon stars are ending their careers.

See the list of biathletes retiring further down in the article.

Among the prominent figures retiring after the 2025/2026 Olympic season are Italian biathlon star Dorothea Wierer and last year’s World Cup winner Franziska Preuss from Germany. Both announced their retirements following the mass start event at the Olympics.

Also Read – Biathlon World Cup 2025/2026: Final standings after Holmenkollen

Living like in a monastery

Franziska Preuss made her World Cup debut in 2013. Since then, she has competed in 297 World Cup races, standing on the podium in 57 of them and securing 15 victories. She won the overall World Cup once (in 2025) and claimed three individual cups (mass start in 2015 and 2025, sprint in 2025).

Preuss has a total of two Olympic medals: bronze in the relay in 2022 and bronze in the mixed relay in 2026. She also has 11 World Championship medals, including two golds.

However, the price of success has been high. Preuss has lived under a strict regimen where she and her partner have separate bathrooms and rarely meet other people for months on end.

Read More: World Cup winner announces retirement live

Retired with Olympic silver

For Wierer, it is now definitely over after 17 years in the World Cup and 16 championship medals.

The 36-year-old Italian biathlon star has four Olympic medals from four different Olympics, the latest being on home soil in Anterselva this winter. She also has four World Championship golds and 23 World Cup victories. She has won the overall World Cup twice (in 2019 and 2020). Since her debut in the 2009 season, Wierer has competed in 440 World Cup races.

The article continues below.

Retiring after 560 World Cup races

Other notable figures retiring include Simon Eder from Austria.

The 43-year-old Eder is ending his career after more than 20 years in the World Cup. He has competed in 560 World Cup races, standing on the podium in 42 of them and winning seven. No one has competed in more races than he has. He has two Olympic medals (both in relay) and five World Championship medals, including four silvers and three bronzes.

Paulína Bátovská Fialková and Anastasia Kuzmina from Slovakia are also finishing at the highest level. The 41-year-old Kuzmina made a comeback in 2024, aiming for this year’s Olympics.

Swedish star uncertain

Several Swedish athletes have also chosen to retire. Oskar Ohlsson, who has lived in Oslo in recent years, announced his retirement last weekend after the NM. He competed in the IBU Cup last season, with an 18th place as his best result.

Anton Ivarsson has been part of the national team’s training group in recent years. However, after the Swedish Championships in Piteå, it became clear that he is retiring after a challenging season. Anna Magnusson has just concluded her best season, with several individual podium finishes. However, she is uncertain about her future and has not yet made a decision.

These biathletes are retiring after the 2025/2026 Olympic Season

Bulgaria
Vladimir Iliev (39)

Canada
Daniel Gilfillan (21)

France
Antonin Guigonnat (34)
Mathieu Garcia (23)

Italy
Danielle Capellari (29)
Denise Planker (23)
Dorothea Wierer (36)

Japan
Mikito Tachizaki (37)

Lithuania
Tomas Kaukenas (35)

Norway
Marit Ishol Skogan (27)
Vetle Rype Paulsen (25)
Harald Øygard (29)
Martin Femsteinevik (29)

Slovakia
Paulína Bátovská Fialková (33)
Anastasia Kuzmina (41)

Slovenia
Kaja Maric (22)

Switzerland
Susanna Meinen (33)

Sweden
Anton Ivarsson (25)
Oskar Ohlsson (30)

Germany
Johannes Kühn (34)
Franziska Preuss (32)

USA
Paul Schommer (33)
Jake Brown (34)

Austria
Simon Eder (43)
Lisa Theresa Hauser (32)
Julia Leitinger (formerly Schwaiger) (30)

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