Norwegian Clean Sweep as DSV Biathletes Struggle at Shooting Range

Norwegian Clean Sweep at Kontiolahti Biathlon World Cup

The Norwegian biathletes showcased their dominance in the first individual race of the winter. Endre Strömsheim won the short individual event over 15 kilometers, followed closely by his compatriots Johannes Thingnes Bö and Sturla Holm Lägreid.

The Germans struggled significantly at the range, ultimately resulting in no podium finishes. The best-performing athlete from the German Ski Association (DSV) was Philipp Nawrath, who finished 22nd, trailing by 2 minutes and 49.2 seconds after three shooting errors. “Our standards are much higher. We wanted to place better,” Nawrath remarked, expressing disappointment.

Philipp Horn was the first German to compete and initially shot flawlessly. However, issues arose during the prone position, where he missed a shot, and in the final round, he missed two more shots, preventing a better placement and concluding his race in 32nd. “Standing was absolutely unacceptable. I am far from being where I need to be,” stated Horn.

Justus Strelow described his performance as a “bad day” after he made three mistakes in the first shooting. His performance did not improve afterwards: he missed two shots in prone position. He ended his race with six errors, finishing 80th. “I wanted to shoot like a road sign,” he quipped about his poor shooting results (3-2-1-0 errors).

Danilo Riethmüller (3 errors, 30th place), Johannes Kühn (5 errors, 54th), and David Zobel (4 errors, 60th) rounded out a disappointing day for the German squad. “If you don’t shoot well, it can quickly lead to a poor finish,” Kühn acknowledged, reflecting on the icy conditions that hampered stability on the skis.

Furthermore, the Norwegian biathletes demonstrated precision at the shooting range, with Sturla Holm Lägreid and Endre Strömsheim hitting all 20 targets accurately, showcasing their exceptional shooting skills. Despite Johannes Thingnes Bö missing one shot in the second round, his efforts kept him competitive, but he narrowly missed out on winning his 86th World Cup title to Stömsheim, who crossed the finish line just three seconds ahead of him.

For more details on today's races, view our live ticker or our results page on the Biathlon section.