Historic Moment at the Biathlon World Championships: 'Donald Trump Should Be More Careful'

Ukaleq and Sondre Slettemark from Greenland are making history at the Biathlon World Championships. The sibling duo, who entered the Single Mixed Relay on Thursday, had no higher ambition than simply to cross the finish line. When Sondre, barely over three and a half minutes behind the winning French team of Julia Simon and Quentin Fillon Maillet, finally crossed the finish, he fulfilled a dream and emerged as the day’s unsung hero. To mark the moment, he confidently put his finger to his lips and stared into the camera.

However, at that exact moment, exhausted and out of energy, Sondre lost control on his skis, fell backward, and crashed into the snow at Lenzerheide. What had been a cool planned gesture quickly turned into a slightly embarrassing moment, especially as a piece of his rifle broke in the fall. Later on Instagram, his sister Ukaleq humorously commented on the mishap with a wink: "That weird guy, what an idiot." It was the quirky end to an otherwise historic and deeply emotional relay performance.

A Historic Finish and a First for Greenland

France, Norway, and Germany may have taken part in the award ceremony, but history was written by the Slettemark siblings. Never before had Greenland fielded a team at a winter sports world championship – Ukaleq and Sondre were the pioneers. “Our main goal was simply to manage to finish the race – and we did, even though the race didn’t go our way and I even shot a penalty round,” said Sondre with shining eyes. Ukaleq tearfully recalled how she almost cried when Sondre made his final push back into the stadium. To them, finishing in 23rd place felt like a win, and no other duo grinned as broadly in the mixed zone.

Medailles, triumphs, failures, and dramatic moments usually headline world championships. Yet, it is these ‘exotic’ stories that add a unique flavor and special atmosphere to the event. “We even had seven fans along the track – it’s amazing,” Sondre joked, adding that few nations could boast of such a high-percentage of supporters relative to their population. Afterwards, the siblings sought out their fans for a team photo, proudly displaying the Greenlandic flag.

The Slettemarks and the Feeling of a 'Family Vacation'

The passion for the sport runs deep in the Slettemark family. Both siblings are regarded as pioneers of Greenlandic biathlon. Their mother, Uiloq, raced over 80 times in the World Cup during the 2000s, missing the 2002 Olympics only because she was pregnant with Ukaleq during the Salt Lake City Games. That honor eventually went to their father, Øystein, who, eight years later, became the first Greenlandic male biathlete to compete at the Olympics in Vancouver.

Now, Uiloq and Øystein are dedicated to making biathlon more popular in Greenland by passing on their know-how and training their children. “Our team here consists of four people: my mother, my father, my brother and me – which is pretty much our entire federation,” laughed Ukaleq. “It almost feels like a family vacation.” The words “fun” and “pride” are repeated often, and while there is still room to grow in terms of athletic potential, especially in shooting, the siblings’ background has given them a unique edge. They received a very special training not on traditional ranges but in nature – a skill honed from childhood when they went on reindeer hunts with their parents. Not coincidentally, their shooting skills have become their strength.

Close Bonds and a Brief Political Dig

In Switzerland, 23‐year‐old Ukaleq is competing in her fourth World Championship – she was also at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, where despite difficult conditions at the shooting range, she managed a perfect 30 out of 30 in her individual and sprint events. In January 2023, at the World Cup in Ruhpolding in a shooting-heavy individual race, she sensationally finished 21st and earned her first World Cup points for her country.

Her younger brother, Sondre, recently demonstrated promising results in the second-tier IBU Cup in Italy, finishing eighth in the sprint, 14th in the pursuit, and 13th in the mass start. Now they are competing together among the world’s best. When asked if traveling together as siblings created difficulties or conflicts, Sondre laughed as Ukaleq explained, “We are really, really good friends. People say you should be careful when you’re always with your brother, but we get along very well.” Conflicts are rare.

A Biathlon Colleague’s Risqué Comment on Trump

Both siblings are already looking confidently toward their next major goal: the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Since the International Olympic Committee recognizes Greenland as an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark rather than as an independent nation, they will likely be part of the Danish delegation – as Ukaleq was in 2022. “Of course, we hope that one day Greenland can also be represented at the Olympic Games,” emphasized Sondre, adding, “but first, we have to discuss independence.”

In a light-hearted nod to current events, Swedish biathlete Sebastian Samuelsson joked after the historic relay: “Donald Trump should be more careful,” referencing the US president’s recent threats to buy or annex Greenland. Sondre smiled and replied that while they try not to talk politics too much, representing the Greenlandic flag on the international stage is a fantastic feeling. The Slettemarks, despite not winning a medal, were the day’s true victors.

“Single Mixed Relay is the perfect event for us because our team only consists of two people,” Ukaleq said, already hinting at future attempts. “I believe we’ll eventually have a better chance once our form improves.” Without a doubt, the siblings are already a significant asset to the sport of biathlon.