The mixed relay guarantees an exciting start to the Olympic biathlon competitions in Antholz-Anterselva. Having two men and two women on the same team creates a unique team dynamic, and, after a race in which many nations entered their B-teams, it is now one of the most prestigious races to win. 

Four teams can win: France, Italy, Sweden, and Norway. Women on the last two legs can change the biathlon relay from what we’re used to, with men anchoring the teams. 

Sunday, February 8: Mixed Relay (M+W) (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:05 CET: Mixed Relay, Men + Women

The start list can be found HERE

ABOUT TODAY’S RACE 

The mixed relay is a mixed-gender competition composed of teams of two men and two women from the same country. The competition specifics are the same as in the regular relays. All starters compete either over a 6km course or over a 7.5km course (men). 

The first leg racers have a mass start. All athletes are shooting twice, once in the prone and once in the standing position. They are shooting five shots. If they don’t hit all, they have three extra bullets to be loaded one by one. If they still have not hit all five targets, they must do the penalty loop, which takes about 20-25 seconds extra. The penalty loop is 150 meters long. 

Loading a spare bullet will take about 10 extra seconds. They are shooting at 50 meters, and the targets are 45mm for prone (the black inner ring) and 115mm for standing (the whole black ring). 

The first team to complete all four legs wins the relay. 

Olympic Champions mixed relay 

• 2014 (Sochi): NORWAY, (Tora Berger, Tiril Eckhoff, Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Emil Hegle Svendsen) 
• 2018 (Pyeongchang): FRANCE, (Marie Dorin Habert, Anais Bescond, Simon Desthieux, Martin Fourcade) 
• 2022 (Beijing): NORWAY, (Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Tiril Eckhoff, Tarjei Bø, Johannes Thingnes Bø)  

World Champions mixed relay 

• 2005: RUSSIA, (Olga Pyleva, Svetlana Ishmouratova, Ivan Tcherezov, Nikolay Kruglov) 
• 2006: RUSSIA, (Anna Bogali-Titovets, Sergei Tchepikov, Irina Malgina, Nikolay Kruglov) 
• 2007: SWEDEN, (Helena Ekholm, Anna Carin Zidek, Björn Ferry, Carl Johan Bergman) 
• 2008: GERMANY, (Sabrina Buchholz, Magdalena Neuner, Andreas Birnbacher, Michael Greis) 
• 2009: FRANCE, (Marie Laure Brunet, Sylvie Becaert, Vincent Defrasne, Simon Fourcade) 
• 2010: GERMANY, (Simone Hauswald, Magdalena Neuner, Simon Schempp, Arnd Peiffer) 
• 2011: NORWAY, (Tora Berger, Ann-Kristin Flatland, Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Tarjei Bøe) 
• 2012: NORWAY, (Tora Berger, Synnøve Solemdal, Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Emil Hegle Svendsen) 
• 2013: NORWAY, (Tora Berger, Synnøve Solemdal, Tarjei Bø, Emil Hegle Svendsen) 
• 2015: CZECHIA, (Veronika Vitkova, Gabriela Soukalova, Michal Slesingr, Ondrej Moravec) 
• 2016: FRANCE, (Anais Bescond, Marie Dorin Habert, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Martin Fourcade) 
• 2017: GERMANY, (Vanessa Hinz, Laura Dahlmeier, Arnd Peiffer, Simon Schempp) 
• 2019: NORWAY, (Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Tiril Eckhoff, Johannes Thingnes Bø, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen) 
• 2020: NORWAY, (Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Tiril Eckhoff, Tarjei Bø, Johannes Thingnes Bø) 
• 2021: NORWAY, (Sturla Holm Lægreid, Johannes Thingnes Bø, Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbru Røiseland) 
• 2023: NORWAY, (Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Marte Olsbru Røiseland, Sturla Holm Lægreid, Johannes Thingnes Bø) 
• 2024: FRANCE, (Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Julia Simon) 
• 2025: FRANCE, (Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot, Eric Perrot, Emilien Jacquelin) 

FAVORITES 

FRANCE 

France has dominated the last two World Championships, winning both. Their team is usually without any weak parts. They are shooting fast and often missing less than the others. In the tracks, they are not better than the other three favorites. But without mistakes, France is probably the biggest favorite. 

ITALY 

The home nation won the last World Cup in Nové Mesto, and all the athletes are from the area. Extremely fast shooting speed from Wierer and Vittozzi is a plus. But they would probably be even better with Tommaso Giacomel as their anchor. Now they must let the women fight for the medals. Will have the crowd helping them, of course. 

NORWAY 

The reigning champions, but for the first time in many years without the Bø brothers. Norway will get an advantage with the ladies last. Maren Kirkeeide showed in Ruhpolding that she may be the fastest anchorwoman. The men are as strong – and probably stronger – than the other team. But the question mark is the 3rd leg with the woman number two. Norway won gold at the World championships on this venue in 2020. 

SWEDEN 

The Swedes will probably also have an advantage with the women anchoring the team. The Öberg-sisters can beat anybody on the final two legs. A lot depends on the shooting of Samuelsson and Ponsiluoma on the men’s legs. Sweden won the mixed relay at the World Championships here in Antholz back in 2007. They can do it again, but it can also be outside the podium.  

OUTSIDERS 

GERMANY 

The big biathlon nation hasn’t really gotten its things together in recent years. They are missing top names like Neuner, Dahlmeier, Schempp, Peiffer, and others. But if Franziska Preuss is their anchor on the last leg, it might be anything. She can fight with the anchor women of the four favorites. It will take some better performances than earlier this Winter to put Preuss in this position. 

USA 

Did a good mixed relay at the last World Cup in Nové Mesto. But the USA will not be strong enough on the last two legs with their women. If Campbell Wright had been in that position, they could have had a chance. Top 6 is possible. 

You will find the start list HERE

Biathlon schedule – Milano-Cortina 2026

Sunday, February 8: Mixed Relay (M+W) (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:05 CET: Mixed Relay, Men + Women

Tuesday, February 10: Men 20km Individual (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:30 CET: 20km Individual, Men

Wednesday, February 11: Women 15km Individual (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:15 CET: 15km Individual, Women

Friday, February 13: Men 10km Sprint (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 10km Sprint, Men

Saturday, February 14: Women 7.5km Sprint (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:45 CET: 7.5km Sprint, Women

Sunday, February 15: Men 12.5km Pursuit and Women 10km Pursuit (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:15 CET: 12.5km Pursuit, Men
• 14:45 CET: 10km Pursuit, Women

Tuesday, February 17: Men 4×7.5km Relay (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:30 CET: 4×7.5km Relay, Men

Wednesday, February 18: Women 4x6km Relay (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:45 CET: 4x6km Relay, Women

Friday, February 20: Men 15km Mass Start (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:15 CET: 15km Mass Start, Men

Saturday, February 21: Women 12.5km Mass Start (More information can be found HERE)

• 14:15 CET: 12.5km Mass Start, Women

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Antholz-Anterselva promises breathtaking courses for athletes and spectacular viewing for fans. With every shot and ski stride counting, the biathletes will aim for the podium in every race, making the biathlon one of the most eagerly watched events of the 2026 Winter Games.

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

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