Knotten Impresses with Strong Sprint Performance in Hochfilzen

Karoline Offigstad Knotten shot flawlessly and took third place in the World Cup sprint in Hochfilzen, Austria. German Franziska Preuss won the race despite one miss. Knotten, who started with bib number 68, delivered stellar performances both on the course and at the shooting range. After a solid final round, she secured the last spot on the podium.

Knotten commented on her challenging race, stating, "It was incredibly tough in the tracks today. I fought until the last shot in standing, but I’m more satisfied with how I controlled my shooting in prone."

This performance marks another podium finish for Knotten, who has appeared in the top three individually three times but is still seeking her first win. Preuss was ten seconds ahead at the finish.

Her former teammate, now NRK analyst Marte Olsbu Røiseland, praised Knotten's performance: "Karoline executed such a strong race today. She did everything perfectly and made gains on the climbs. This could be very exciting for the pursuit race."

On the other hand, Juni Arnekleiv had a flawless first shooting but missed twice in standing, which spoilt her chances for a top finish, while Gro Randby and Emilie Kalkenberg struggled substantially with five and four misses each, respectively.

The season highlight for the biathletes will arrive in February with the World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.