The Norwegian biathlon talent is turning heads: The 23-year-old from the development team is now shooting significantly faster than the legendary Bø brothers and the entire World Cup elite.

Hailing from Birkeland, Norway, Martin Uldal got help from a rival to design a custom rifle, enabling him to shoot faster. And now, he’s delivering faster shooting.

Ahead of the 2022/23 season, Uldal initiated the creation of a custom-made, 3D-designed rifle stock aimed at cutting precious seconds off his shooting time. The investment is paying off—Uldal now shoots faster than even the best biathletes in the world.

During the last standing shoot in the men’s pursuit in Hochfilzen last weekend, Uldal completed his shooting in a stunning 12.9 seconds—faster than anyone else. The second-best time was 16.5 seconds, achieved by French Olympic champion Quentin Fillon Maillet. Emilien Jacquelin followed with 19.5 seconds, and the next-fastest Norwegian, Endre Strømsheim, clocked in at 20.4 seconds for the seventh-best time.

Uldal is also among the quickest skiers on the track. During the same pursuit race, he posted the fastest cross-country split times in both the second and third laps.

His remarkable form has now earned him a spot in the next World Cup round, replacing Tarjei Bø.

A Revolutionary Rifle

The custom rifle stock that Uldal started using last year is a big part of why he’s been able to slash his shooting times.

The man behind this innovation is Clément Jacquelin, the brother of French biathlon star Emilien Jacquelin. A former French national team member himself, Clément now runs Athletic 3D, a company specializing in advanced 3D-printed sports equipment.

“With 3D technology, you can customize the rifle stock to be even more ergonomic and stable for the athlete,” explains Jacquelin. “In biathlon, where every second counts, even small improvements can make a massive difference.”

The custom design for Uldal includes two key innovations:

1. Aerodynamic Front Design
   The front of the rifle is less vulnerable to crosswinds, providing greater stability during standing shooting, even in windy conditions. Inspired by airplane wing geometry, this design has significantly enhanced Uldal’s performance in challenging weather.
2. Unique Charging Mechanism
   The rifle features a completely redesigned charging area, optimized through biomechanical analysis to suit Uldal’s shooting technique. This allows for quicker reloading during both prone and standing shoots, a game-changer in the biathlon arena.

Clément Jacquelin is justifiably proud of the result, calling it “revolutionary.” He believes the rifle’s customizations could be the deciding factor in helping Uldal establish himself among the world’s best.

Uldal’s Rise

Martin Uldal made his World Cup debut in Oslo in March 2022, finishing 20th in the sprint and 27th in the pursuit. After dominating the IBU Cup in Geilo with back-to-back victories in early December, he earned another chance at the World Cup in Hochfilzen from December 13–15.

With his new rifle and rapid progress, Uldal is poised to leave an even bigger mark on the international biathlon stage.

Read More: Biathlon World Cup: Martin Uldal wins 10km sprint in Annecy – Le Grand Bornand

FACTS Annecy – Le Grand Bornand Biathlon World Cup Season 2024/2025

• When: Thursday, December 19 to Sunday, December 22, 2024 
• Who: Elite national biathletes – women and men
• Where: Annecy – Le Grand Bornand, France
• What: IBU in Annecy – Le Grand Bornand, France

PROGRAM

Thursday, December 19: 10km Sprint M (More details can be found HERE)

• 14:20 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

Friday, December 20: 7.5km Sprint W (More details can be found HERE)

• 14:20 CET: 7.5km Sprint, Women

Saturday, December 21: 10km/12.5km Pursuit W/M (More details can be found HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 12.5km Pursuit, Men
• 14:45 CET: 10km Pursuit, Women

Sunday, December 22: 12.5km/15km Mass Start W/M (More details can be found HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 15km Mass Start, Men
• 14:45 CET: 12.5km Mass Start, Women

After Annecy – Le Grand Bornand (France), the biathlon World Cup heads to Oberhof (Germany), Ruhpoldhing (Germany), Antholz-Anterselva (Italy), Lenzerheide (Switzerland) for the World Championships, 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

Additional information about the Biathlon World Cup in Hochfilzen can be found HERE

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