Winter is close: what is the shape of the stars of our biathlon and ski racing

The ski and biathlon season starts in Russia this week. Our elite skiers will gather in Kirovsk, where they will hold six races, and biathletes will run sprints, mixed relay and pursuit races as part of the Cup of Russia in Khanty-Mansiysk. Read more about the shape of our leaders and the features of the new season in the Izvestia article.

Are there any bullets

The new biathlon season will bring a number of important events in domestic competitions. After a long break, the big official tournaments will return to Sochi, where the Commonwealth Cup (the rivalry between Russian and Belarusian biathletes) will be held — one of the two main starts of the season along with the Russian Championship. The Krasnaya Polyana stage is especially important because it will be held at altitude — since the suspension, a whole generation of biathletes has grown up in Russia who did not have a chance to compete in the mountains, where most international races take place. In addition, the Sochi stage will be held on the same dates as the Winter Olympics in Milan. It will be held even if a limited number of Russians receive admission for the 2026 Games at the last moment.

There is very little chance of that. The IBU puts forward a number of political demands that are not related to sports, and also refers to the absence of the concept of "neutral status" in its regulations.

"I'm trying not to think too pessimistically [about skipping the Olympics]," Eduard Latypov, three—time medalist of the Beijing 2022 Games, told Izvestia. — When there is the slightest hope, a fraction of a percent, it can still happen. Even if there's no Olympics, I'm ready for it. And if there is, then I will also be ready for some part. I always want to hope for the best. There is a chance, theoretical or hypothetical. Everything can change. At the same time, I am a realist. I understand that there may be no Games for us. I hope that something will work out. If international launches open next year, it will also be very good.

Also, at the last press conference of the SBR, financial issues related to the payment of prize money were highlighted. Alexander Pak, Executive Director of the Russian Olympic Committee, said that the prize money would not increase compared to the previous season, but it could double at individual starts, as it did at the Russian Cup final in Zlatoust a year ago.

— It is clear that there are more prizes in the international arena, — continued Eduard Latypov. — The World Cup has a higher status — there is a different coverage, different sponsors. Of course, the competition is higher. Therefore, there is a difference. But it's good that we have the opportunity to receive good prize money now. If we compare, then before the suspension, there was no reward at all at Russian competitions. I hope that in the near future the prize money will grow and new sponsors will appear.

The leadership of the SBR also raised the issue of purchasing imported cartridges for the Russian national team.

"By now, we have acquired enough for the Russian national team for this season," Viktor Maigurov, President of the RBU, summed up in an interview with reporters. — The suppliers we work with have brought it not only for us, but also with a reserve — it is being sold for our other regional federations and athletes. I would also like to note that in August, the production of domestic Biathlon cartridges resumed in Russia, and they are available in sufficient quantities. The cartridges aren't cheap, but they are.

Work continues to expand the geography of Russian biathlon. In November, a modern shooting range was opened in the Republic of Chuvashia, and representatives of the region have already received an application to host the highest-level competitions next season, which the SBR took very seriously. At the end of this season, Russian biathlon will return to Kamchatka, where the Russian Junior Championships will be held. In addition, complexes in Alushta, Krasnaya Polyana 500, Logoisk (Belarus) and Krasnoyarsk were used for the first time in the preparation of the national team this year. In the capital of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the year of the 400th anniversary of the city, the SBR plans to hold the Russian Championship, said Maigurov.

Biathletes will start their season in Khanty-Mansiysk. All the leaders of the national team will compete at the Russian Cup, including Latypov, Alexander Loginov, Daniil Serokhvostov and Karim Khalili for men. Svetlana Mironova, Kristina Reztsova, Victoria Slivko, Anastasia Khalili, Anastasia Shevchenko, Natalia Shevchenko and Victoria Metelya will come to Yugra for women. This season may be decisive for Blizzard — Victoria may well push Reztsova and other recognized leaders, and take the first roles in the women's national team.

Generational change

In skiing, Alexander Bolshunov is traditionally in bad shape at the beginning of the season. 21-year-old Savely Korostelev has become even stronger. He has a real chance to take the title of the best skier in the country from San Sanych. Moreover, the three-time Olympic champion is demotivated after it became clear that the chances of a trip to the 2026 Games are minimal.

"I got the impression that Alexander is not in the same shape as he was three years ago," Austrian skier Mika Fermoylen, who trained with a group of our skiers at a recent training camp in Ramsau, told Sport Express. — Bolshunov-2022 is probably the highest level that we have ever seen in skiing. And it's not so strange that he might not be so good right now.

Actually, the story when they promised to let us in, but they didn't give us a chance to qualify for Italy, hit everyone hard psychologically. Daria Nepryaeva even posted a post with tears, and her sister, Olympic champion, three-time World Cup medalist Natalia Nepryaeva-Terentyeva, almost immediately announced that she was going on maternity leave. Although the coach of the Russian national team, Yuri Borodavko, thinks otherwise.

— The athletes have already got used to it, this is the fourth season [without international starts]. Everyone understands the situation that is happening in the world. We are preparing for the Russian Cup. We have a fairly large number of competitions where you can prove yourself," Yuri Borodavko told Izvestia.

In general, the generation that rocked Beijing 2022 is gradually fading into the background. Yes, Olympic relay champion Veronika Stepanova has returned after maternity leave, but it is unclear what form she is in now. But there are clear signs of a generational change (unlike biathlon) — there are many new names of young guys — the same Ivan Gorbunov, who became a real discovery last season (in December 2024, he held a number of races in the yellow jersey of the leader). In February of this year, at a training camp in Armenia, Ivan fell at high speed. As the athlete later shared: another millimeter — and it could reach disability. After such a terrible injury, the skier quickly returned to service and began preparing for the new season in the summer. In September, he competed at the Russian Roller Ski Championships, and at the end of October, he won medals at competitions in Yakutia. Ivan is currently in Kirovsk, where the new season officially begins on November 27 with the Russian Cup.

"I am grateful to God that I have returned,— Ivan Gorbunov told Izvestia. — I am grateful to our rehabilitologist, Sergey Chechil. I am grateful to everyone who helped me travel to Germany. These are Elena Vyalbe, President of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, and Ilshat Fardiev, President of the Tatarstan Ski Racing Federation. I've always been in touch with them. They helped me with everything I needed. I am grateful to everyone who worked with me. I understand that I wouldn't have been able to do anything without them. This is a tremendous amount of work. They worked with the body for 10-12 hours a day. Everyone tried to help me. They saw my zeal and desire, that I did not give up and want to return. I understood that we could have the Olympics ahead of us. My goal and childhood dream is to become an Olympic champion. I was walking towards her. But since there are no Olympics for us next year, the main goal is the championship and the final of the Cup of Russia.

An interesting point of the coming season will be the venue of the Russian championship, which will be held on Sakhalin. The main start of the season is scheduled for February 25 - March 8.