Norwegian Sensation at the World Championships: 'I Had More Acid Than I Ever Had Before'

At the World Championships in Lenzerheide, 21‐year–old Norwegian sensation Maren Kirkeeide clinched the bronze medal in the 12.5 km mass start event. While Swedish Elvira Öberg took gold, a strong field battled it out on the course, with the French athlete Oceane Michelon proving too strong in the final stretch to grab silver. Kirkeeide’s race was marked by her ability to recover even after the pressure of her competitors’ missed shots.

Kirkeeide explained that it was a tough race, especially on the final lap, stating, "I had so much acid like I've never had before up that last hill, so I was glad that we could just cruise into the finish." Despite having to rely on mistakes from other contenders to keep her in contention, her consistent skiing and shooting allowed her to pull through.

Missed Shots

The first shooting bout was fraught with errors, as many in the field missed several targets – including Kirkeeide and Tandrevold, each recording two misses. Although several of the favorites had to do penalty loops, German Franziska Preuss hit all five targets during her standing shooting stage, maintaining her pace.

In the later rounds, Kirkeeide was forced to settle for second place in the final shooting bout, as competitors’ errors created the space she needed to secure a medal amid a tight battle for the remaining podium spots.

Relay Silver

Additional context from the championships revealed that the Norwegian women’s biathlon relay team also claimed silver the previous day, emphasizing the strength and promising future for Norwegian biathlon. Despite Tandrevold’s individual struggles – finishing 20th after several missed targets – she celebrated the relay success alongside her teammate.

For Kirkeeide, this breakthrough season marks an important milestone after already achieving two individual podium finishes and two second places in Oberhof. Her performance in Lenzerheide underscores her potential at the highest level of international competition.