The drama surrounding the French biathlon stars is casting a shadow over the World Cup opener in Östersund. Now, Maren Kirkeeide is preparing to meet the chaotic team for the first time since everything exploded.

The 22-year-old from Norway is ready for her third season on the Norwegian national team. On Saturday afternoon, she will open her World Cup season by racing in the women’s relay.

It will also be the first time Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide meets the French biathletes on snow since the World Cup final at Holmenkollen.

Since then, much has happened within the French team, which, on the women’s side, has been marked by scandals, internal conflict, and a generally poor atmosphere.

“It’s not exactly a group of girlfriends going on a trip,” former World Champion Marie Dorin Habert said to French TV.

Julia Simon, who in late October was convicted of fraud and theft from her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and other national team members, and Jeanne Richard’s deliberate sabotage of a teammate’s rifle, have shaken the entire biathlon world — including the Norwegian team and Kirkeeide.

“I think it’s sad to see that such things can happen. When I talk to them, I think they’re all very nice and pleasant,” Kirkeeide tells Langrenn.com.

Also Read: Biathlon star confesses to fraud – Suspended prison sentence and fine

Shock and disbelief

The shock was therefore significant when she learned about the sabotage some time ago.

What do you think about someone sabotaging a teammate’s rifle?

“It’s difficult to understand that something like that can happen. It’s very unfortunate.”

For her, such an act is unimaginable.

Could anything like this happen on the Norwegian team?

“No one on my team would ever consider doing something like that. It’s strange that they can even think of such things — and especially against their own teammates.”

What will it be like to meet them again after all this — will you keep your rifle under close watch at all times now?

“We always have people who look after our equipment, so I’m not worried that something like that will happen to our things. But … I think they need to sort this out themselves, and the rest of us shouldn’t interfere too much.”

Maren Kirkeeide remains focused on herself and the job she needs to do, both in the anchor leg for Norway in the Östersund relay and moving toward the Olympics in February and the rest of the winter.

After Saturday’s relay, the program continues with mixed relays on Sunday, followed by three individual races during the week. All events are also part of the 2026 Olympics program.

FACTS Östersund World Cup Season 2025/2026

• When: Saturday, November 29 to Sunday, December 7
• Who: Elite national biathletes – women and men
• Where: Östersund, Sweden
• What: IBU World Cup in Östersund, Sweden

PROGRAM

Saturday, November 29: Women 4x6km Relay and Men 4×7.5km Relay (more information can be found HERE)

• 13:15 CET: Women 4x6km Relay 
• 16:55 CET: Men 4×7.5km Relay 

Sunday, November 30: Single Mixed Relay (M+W) and Mixed Relay (M+W) (more information can be found HERE and HERE)

• 14:00 CET: Single Mixed Relay (M+W)
• 16:40 CET: Mixed Relay (M+W)

Tuesday, December 2: Women 15km Individual (more information can be found HERE)

• 15:30 CET: 15km Individual, Women

Wednesday, December 3: Men 20km Individual (more information can be found HERE)

• 15:30 CET: 20km Individual, Men

Friday, December 5: Women 7.5km Sprint (more information can be found HERE)

• 16:00 CET: 7.5km Sprint, Women

Saturday, December 6: Men 10km Sprint (more information can be found HERE)

• 16:30 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

Sunday, December 7: Women 10km Pursuit and Men 12.5km Pursuit (more information can be found HERE)

• 13:15 CET: Women 10km Pursuit
• 15:20 CET: Men 12.5km Pursuit

After Östersund, the biathlon World Cup continues in Hochfilzen (Austria), then Annecy – Le Grand Bornand (France), before heading to Oberhof (Germany), Ruhpolding (Germany), Nové Město na Moravě (Czech Republic), and Antholz–Anterselva (Italy) for the Winter Olympic Games. The post-Olympic stages will take place in Kontiolahti (Finland) and Otepää (Estonia). The 2025/2026 World Cup season ends in Oslo Holmenkollen (Norway).

Also Read – Biathlon World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season

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