The Biathlon World Championships continues today in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, with the 15km individual for women. Discover how the race works and who the top contenders for gold are!

The longest event for the female biathletes and the only one without penalty loops. The individual races are often looked upon as the “shooter races” because here, you get a full-minute penalty for each missed shot. That is hard to take back in the tracks, even if you are a good skier.

There are four shooting stops, two in the prone position and two in the standing. The targets are the same as for the other events, and the distance is still 50 meters. No spare rounds.

You can normally see the athletes shooting with more security in this discipline, not using the same shooting speed as for the shorter events with penalty loops or extra shots. It’s rare to see a winner with less than 18 hits out of 20 winning this event.

This is the biggest chance for the skiers who are not the fastest but, instead, extremely good shooters. The individual races are normally also the hardest to tip ahead of the races.

FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS (10km race through 1988)

• 1984    Venera Tchernysova, SOV
• 1985    Kaja Parve, SOV
• 1986    Eva Korpela, SWE
• 1987    Sanna Grønlid, NOR
• 1988    Anne Elvebakk, NOR
• 1989    Petra Schaaf, GER
• 1990    Svetlana Davydova, SOV
• 1991    Petra Schaaf, GER
• 1993    Petra Schaaf, GER
• 1995    Corinne Niogret, FRA
• 1996    Emmanuelle Claret, FRA
• 1997    Magdalena Forsberg, SWE
• 1999    Olena Zubrilova, UKR
• 2000    Corinne Niogret, FRA
• 2001    Magdalena Forsberg, SWE
• 2003    Katerina Holubcova, CZE
• 2004    Olga Pyleva, RUS
• 2005    Andrea Henkel, GER
• 2007    Linda Grubben, NOR
• 2008    Ekaterina Jurieva, RUS
• 2009    Kati Wilhelm, GER
• 2011    Helena Ekholm, SWE
• 2012    Tora Berger, NOR
• 2013    Tora Berger, NOR
• 2015    Ekaterina Jurlova, RUS
• 2016    Marie Dorin Habert, FRA
• 2017    Laura Dahlmeier, GER
• 2019    Hanna Öberg, SWE
• 2020    Dorothea Wierer, ITA
• 2021    Marketa Davidova, CZE
• 2023    Hanna Öberg, SWE
• 2024    Lisa Vittozzi, ITA

FAVORITES

1. Lou Jeanmonnot FRA

Overall, may be the one to trust the most when securing shooting. Jeanmonnot has proved several times this Winter that she can overcome nerves and hit all the targets in pressed situations.

• Franziska Preuss, GER

Complete athlete who is experiencing a fantastic season. Full of self-confidence after great results this season. She also has more experience from World Championships than most of her competitors.

• Elvira Öberg, SWE

If she takes better shots than normal, she can win the individual race. Elvira Öberg is one of few athletes who can win with maybe 18 hits out of 20. She is back after sickness before Lenzerheide and will be a medal candidate in all her races.

OUTSIDERS

Suvi Minkkinen, FIN

A surprise this Winter. Having steadily delivered top results and can challenge for a medal with the perfect performance. Her skiing speed is also better than in previous years.

Amy Baserga, SUI

The big talent from the home country has found the form just in time for Lenzerheide. But she will be under immense pressure from the home crowd. Normally a secure shooter, losing some time in the track. A medal will be a surprise but not a sensation.

Lisa Theresa Hauser, AUT

Not many put the Austrian veteran on the list of favorites. But Hauser has the experience and has, at some points this season, shown good, old form. Her advantage here is the shooting, of course. But she needs to step up her skiing a bit for a medal.

Hanna Öberg, SWE

Would generally have been among the three favorites. This was her favorite event during her whole career. But this Winter has been more difficult, and not everybody believes Hanna Öberg is good enough to repeat her results from Oberhof two years ago.

START LIST

The complete start list can be found HERE

Also Read – Biathlon World Championships 2025: Complete program for Lenzerheide

FACTS Lenzerheide Biathlon World Championships Season 2024/2025

• When: Wednesday, February 12 to Sunday, February 23, 2025 
• Who: Elite national biathletes – women and men
• Where: Lenzerheide, Switzerland
• What: IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland

PROGRAM

Wednesday, February 12: Mixed Relay (W+M) (More details can be found HERE)

• 14:30 CET: Mixed Relay, Women+Men

Friday, February 14: 7.5km Sprint W (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 7.5km Sprint, Women

Saturday, February 15: 10km Sprint M (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

Sunday, February 16: 10km Pursuit W and 12.5km Pursuit M (More details can be found HERE)

• 12:05 CET: 10km Pursuit, Women
• 15:05 CET: 12.5km Pursuit, Men

Tuesday, February 18: 15km Individual W (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 15km Individual, Women

Wednesday, February 19: 20km Individual M (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:05 CET: 20km Individual, Men

Thursday, February 20: Single Mixed Relay (W+M) (More details can be found HERE)

• 16:05 CET: Single Mixed Relay, Woman+Man

Saturday, February 22: 4x6km Relay W and 4×7.5km Relay M (More details can be found HERE)

• 12:05 CET: 4x6km Relay, Women
• 15:05 CET: 4×7.5km Relay, Men

Sunday, February 23: 12.5km Mass Start W and 15km Mass Start M (More details can be found HERE)

• 13:45 CET: 12.5km Mass Start, Women
• 16:05 CET: 15km Mass Start, Men

After the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), the biathlon World Cup heads to Nove Mesto Na Morave (Czech Republic) and Pokljuka (Slovenia). Then, the 2024/2025 World Cup season ends in Oslo (Norway).

Also Read: Biathlon World Cup and World Championships: Calendar for the 2024/2025 winter season

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