Biathlon World Championships: Last Chance and Bitter Tears on TV

Bitter Tears at the World Championships: "I’m so sorry"

The Swiss biathlon relay team suffered a heavy blow at the World Championships. With hopes of winning a medal, they ended up finishing in a dismal 14th place. After the race, start runner Elisa Gasparin was overcome with emotion and burst into tears.

The disappointment ran deep among the Swiss women following the relay race at the Biathlon World Championships, which are being held in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, from February 12 to 23. The team had high medal ambitions but their race quickly unraveled.

Already after start runner Elisa Gasparin’s error – which forced her into a penalty loop and set teammate Amy Baserga back by nearly two minutes – the team’s dream of winning a World Championship medal had to be abandoned. Gasparin, 33, expressed her frustration in an emotional interview on SRF: "It’s a mix of anger and wrath. I’m very disappointed."

Double the bitterness: For the experienced Gasparin, this was her final World Championship race. "I’m so sorry for all the fans who came today and for the girls who still have to race. We finally wanted to bring this medal home," she added.

Her teammates – Amy Baserga, her sister Aita Gasparin, and anchor Lena Häcki-Groß – could only attempt damage limitation, and none of them managed even a top 10 finish.

Ultimately, the medals went to France (Gold), Norway (Silver), and Sweden (Bronze). The German relay team also faced disappointment, finishing only fifth.