Norway Dominates World Championship Gold – Reveals Disagreement Before Start

Norway clinched a dominant gold medal at the 2025 Biathlon World Championships following a masterful relay performance. Despite disagreements between the athletes and coaches over the team lineup – with suggestions to change the order (the coaches proposed placing Tarjei Bø on the third leg and Sturla Holm Lægreid on the first) – the team came together and trusted their own judgment.

Tarjei Bø noted that his flawless first shooting set a solid foundation for the team, although he later missed a couple of targets on the second round. Sturla Holm Lægreid, who had originally been earmarked for the first leg, argued that he was better suited to a middle leg role. Endre Strømsheim, who ran the opening leg despite missing two shots, contributed tactically by enabling Tarjei Bø to gain a significant advantage – sending him out 12.1 seconds ahead of the French team after his leg.

The decision to follow the athletes’ own plan proved to be a winning formula. Sturla Holm Lægreid, in his revised role, delivered a perfect performance without a single error, while Johannes Thingnes Bø, in the final leg, maintained a 46.5-second lead over France and celebrated a flawless shooting performance. Norwegian commentators praised the unity and tactical flexibility which turned pre-race disagreements into a resounding international success.