Biathlon is moving from the mountains to the city this weekend as the inaugural Loop One Festival brings the sport’s biggest stars to Munich’s Olympic Park. Sweden is sending a team of eight athletes.

On Sunday, October 19, the new biathlon event will kick off the Olympic season in a unique urban setting with a Super Sprint competition open to the public and *free for fans to attend.

Also Read: Biathlon starts ready for Munich’s Loop One Festival

World Championship medalist competing

Sweden is sending eight biathletes, including several national team stars. One of those competing is last year’s sensation, Ella Halvarsson.

“It’s going to be nice to race in an environment unlike anything we’ve done before. I like the idea of bringing biathlon closer to the audience, and the super sprint format suits my skiing style. It will be fast, intense, and really fun,” says Ella Halvarsson in a press release.

The duo Martin Ponsiluoma and Jesper Nelin will also be on the starting line in Munich during the Loop One Festival. In addition to the more experienced names, Sweden is sending two lesser-known athletes. Johanna Nordqvist and Oscar Andersson, both part of Team Autoexperten, will now get their chance against the world’s best.

Also Read: Biathlon talent shocks the sport – Retires immediately at just 28 years old

Super Sprint format explained

The Loop One Festival will feature the fast-paced Super Sprint, a format designed to deliver maximum action for fans in a short race.

The competition begins with qualification heats, each with 15 athletes starting together. Over three 1.8 km loops around Munich’s Olympic Lake, athletes face two shooting bouts — first prone, then standing — with no spare rounds available. Every missed shot means a 60-meter penalty loop. The top three finishers from each heat, along with the three fastest “lucky losers,” advance to the final.

The final brings together 15 athletes for five laps of the 1.8 km course, with four trips to the shooting range: prone, prone, standing, standing. As in the heats, accuracy is critical, as every missed target adds a penalty loop. The combination of short loops, high shooting pressure, and city-center atmosphere makes the Super Sprint one of the most spectator-friendly formats in biathlon.

Event program

For the complete event program and further information, please visit the official Loop One Festival website.

*According to the event’s organization, admission is free throughout the festival grounds and along the route on October 19; tickets are only required for the shooting range and grandstand areas. For further information, please visit https://www.looponefestival.com.

Swedish Team

Women
• Anna Magnusson, Piteå Skidskytteklubb
• Ella Halvarsson, Biathlon Östersund
• Johanna Nordqvist, I 21 IF
• Johanna Skottheim, Lima SKG

Men:
• Jesper Nelin, Biathlon Östersund
• Martin Ponsiluoma, Tullus SG
• Oscar Andersson, Älvdalens SKG
• Viktor Brandt, I 2 IF

Are you interested in biathlon? Click HERE and read more about it.

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