The shortest individual distance for women is probably where you need to hit all 10 targets to win. The total time of the competition is so short that 150 meters extra in the penalty loop can make you lose the medal.
Janina Hettich-Walz will not start in the upcoming biathlon sprint this afternoon.
“I’m very satisfied with what I’ve achieved in my career, but there’s something unfinished that I would really like to accomplish here.”
The Italian biathlete who tested positive for doping just before the Olympics will still be allowed to compete. The appeals court has now lifted her suspension.
In the sprint, most of the top names need 10 hits on the range. A very few athletes might be able to win with one, or on rare occasions, two penalty loops. That offers opportunities for quick skiers. But you also need to be quick on the range. It’s easy to lose 10-15 seconds just in one shooting.
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics continued today for the biathletes in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy, with the men’s 10km Sprint. Check out the results.
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics continued today for the biathletes in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy, with the women’s 15km Individual. Check out the results.
The women’s 15km individual biathlon race at the Olympics delivered a mix of missed medal opportunities and promising signs for the German-speaking teams’ upcoming competitions. While three German athletes and one Swiss athlete finished in the top ten, it was ultimately not enough for a podium place.
The longest distance for women is among the hardest to predict for biathletes. The only race without penalty loops is the race where you get the most back for being a good shooter.
There are always two. That means double the chance of success. And they are extremely important to each other. We have seen one succeed while the other has failed.
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