Biathlon World Championships
The first Biathlon World Championships (BWCH) was held in 1958, with individual and team contests for men. The original team event, Team (time), was held for the last time in 1965, to be replaced in 1966 by the team event, Relay (4 × 7.5 km). The number of events has grown significantly over the years. Beginning in 1984, women biathletes had their own World Championships, and finally, from 1989, both genders have been participating in joint Biathlon World Championships. In 1978 the development was enhanced by the change from the large army rifle calibre to a small bore rifle, while the range to the target was reduced from 150 to 50 meters.[1]
| Biathlon World Championships | |
|---|---|
| File:Magdalena Neuner Kaisa Mäkäräinen Kontiolahti 2012.jpg Magdalena Neuner and Kaisa Mäkäräinen during the 2011–12 World Cup season Kontiolahti, North Karelia, Finland | |
| Status | active |
| Genre | sporting event |
| Date(s) | February–March |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | various |
| Inaugurated | 1958 |
| Organised by | IBU |
| File:Current event clock.svg Biathlon World Championships 2025 | |
Venues
The Biathlon World Championships of the season takes place during February or March. Some years it has been necessary to schedule parts of the Championships at other than the main venue because of weather and/or snow conditions. Full, joint Biathlon World Championships have never been held in Olympic Winter Games seasons. Biathlon World Championships in non-IOC events, however, have been held in Olympic seasons. In 2005, the then new event of Mixed Relay (two legs done by women, two legs by men) was arranged separately from the ordinary Championships.
Past Championships:
- 1958 Austria Saalfelden, Austria
- 1959 Italy Courmayeur, Italy
- 1961 Sweden Umeå, Sweden
- 1962 Finland Hämeenlinna, Finland
- 1963 Austria Seefeld, Austria
- 1965 Norway Elverum, Norway
- 1966 West Germany Garmisch-Partenkirchen, West Germany
- 1967 East Germany Altenberg, East Germany (first event in East Europe)
- 1969 Poland Zakopane, Poland
- 1970 Sweden Östersund, Sweden
- 1971 Finland Hämeenlinna, Finland
- 1973 United States Lake Placid, New York, United States (first event outside Europe and in the Americas)
- 1974 Soviet Union Minsk, USSR
- 1975 Italy Antholz-Anterselva, Italy
- 1976 Italy Antholz-Anterselva, Italy (Sprint)
- 1977 Norway Vingrom, Norway
- 1978 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria
- 1979 West Germany Ruhpolding, West Germany
- 1981 Finland Lahti, Finland
- 1982 Soviet Union Minsk, USSR
- 1983 Italy Antholz-Anterselva, Italy
- 1984 France Chamonix, France (Women)
- 1985 West Germany Ruhpolding, West Germany (Men) and Switzerland Egg am Etzel (near Einsiedeln), Switzerland (Women)
- 1986 Norway Oslo, Norway (Men) and Sweden Falun, Sweden (Women)
- 1987 United States Lake Placid, New York, United States (Men) and Finland Lahti, Finland (Women)
- 1988 France Chamonix, France (Women)
- 1989 Austria Feistritz an der Drau, Austria (first joint Biathlon World Championships)
- 1990 Soviet Union Minsk, USSR; Norway Oslo, Norway and Finland Kontiolahti, Finland
- 1991 Finland Lahti, Finland
- 1992 Russia Novosibirsk, Russia (Team; first event in Asia)
- 1993 Bulgaria Borovets, Bulgaria
- 1994 Canada Canmore, Canada (Team)
- 1995 Italy Antholz-Anterselva, Italy
- 1996 Germany Ruhpolding, Germany
- 1997 Slovakia Brezno-Osrblie, Slovakia
- 1998 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia (Pursuit) and Austria Hochfilzen, Austria (Team)
- 1999 Finland Kontiolahti, Finland and Norway Oslo, Norway
- 2000 Norway Oslo, Norway and Finland Lahti, Finland
- 2001 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia
- 2002 Norway Oslo, Norway (Mass start)
- 2003 Russia Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia (first full event in Asia)
- 2004 Germany Oberhof, Germany
- 2005 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria and Russia Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia (Mixed relay)
- 2006 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia (Mixed relay)
- 2007 Italy Antholz-Anterselva, Italy
- 2008 Sweden Östersund, Sweden
- 2009 South Korea Pyeongchang, South Korea
- 2010 Russia Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia (Mixed relay)
- 2011 Russia Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
- 2012 Germany Ruhpolding, Germany
- 2013 Czech Republic Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic
- 2015 Finland Kontiolahti, Finland
- 2016 Norway Oslo, Norway
- 2017 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria
- 2019 Sweden Östersund, Sweden
- 2020 Italy Antholz-Anterselva, Italy
- 2021 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia
- 2023 Germany Oberhof, Germany
- 2024 Czech Republic Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic
- 2025 Switzerland Lenzerheide, Switzerland
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Upcoming:
Men
Numbers in brackets denotes number of victories in corresponding disciplines. Boldface denotes record number of victories.
Individual (20 km)
This event was first held in 1958.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Sprint (10 km)
This event was first held in 1974.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Pursuit (12.5 km)
This event was first held in 1997.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Mass start (15 km)
This event was first held in 1999.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Relay (4 × 7.5 km)
This event was first held unofficially in 1965. It was a success, and replaced the team competition as an official event in 1966.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Team (time)
This event was held from 1958 to 1965. The times of the top 3 athletes from each country in the 20 km individual were added together (in 1958 the top 4).
Medal table Template:Medals table
Team
This event, a patrol race, was held from 1989 to 1998. From 1989–93 the distance of this event was 20 km, while from 1994–98, the distance was 10 km.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Women
Numbers in brackets denotes number of victories in corresponding disciplines. Boldface denotes record number of victories.
Individual (15 km)
This event was first held in 1984. Through 1988 the distance was 10 km.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Sprint (7.5 km)
This event was first held in 1984. Through 1988 the distance was 5 km.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Pursuit (10 km)
This event was first held in 1997.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Mass start (12.5 km)
This event was first held in 1999.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Relay (4 × 6 km)
This event was first held in 1984. Through 1988, the event was 3 × 5 km, while from 1989–91 it was 3 × 7.5 km, and from 1993–2001 it was 4 × 7.5 km. In 2003, the leg distance was set to 6 km.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Team
This event, a patrol race, was held from 1989 to 1998. 1989–93: 15 km. 1994–98: 7.5 km.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Mixed
Numbers in brackets denotes number of victories in corresponding disciplines. Boldface denotes record number of victories.
Mixed relay
This event was first held in 2005, at the Biathlon World Cup finals in Khanty-Mansiysk. In 2005–20, the women biathletes did the first two legs and the men did the following two (except 2006 when sequence was woman–man–woman–man), the women's ski legs were 6 km each while men ski legs were 7.5 km each (except 2005, 2006 and 2020 when ski legs were 6 km each for all relay members). In 2021, the starting gender became the result of an alternation: for the first time, men opened the relay and women closed it. Since then, this sequence alternates for each following edition. The distance skied became the same for all genders and depending on the one running the first leg (7.5 km if men run first, 6 km if women do), but in 2024 it became 6 km for every relay member no matter who runs first leg.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Single mixed relay
This event was first held in 2019. Each team consists of two members - man and woman. The first of the team members runs the first and third legs (3 km each), the other team member – the second and fourth legs (3 km and 4.5 km respectively). In 2019 and 2020 the women biathletes started single mixed relay and the men biathletes finished it, but in 2021 this order was reversed. Since then, this order alternates for each following edition.
Medal table Template:Medals table
Total medals by country
Updated after the 2025 Championships.
Multiple medalists
Boldface denotes active biathletes and highest medal count among all biathletes (including these who not included in these tables) per type.
Men
All events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannes Thingnes Bø | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2015 | 2025 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 43 |
| 2 | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 1997 | 2017 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 45 |
| 3 | Martin Fourcade | File:Flag of France.svg France | 2011 | 2020 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 28 |
| 4 | Tarjei Bø | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2011 | 2025 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 28 |
| 5 | Emil Hegle Svendsen | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2007 | 2016 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| 6 | Frank Luck | File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany Template:GER |
1989 | 2004 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 7 | Alexander Tikhonov | File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union | 1967 | 1979 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 17 |
| 8 | Ricco Groß | Template:GER | 1991 | 2007 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 20 |
| 9 | Frank Ullrich | File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany | 1977 | 1983 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 14 |
| 10 | Raphaël Poirée | File:Flag of France.svg France | 1998 | 2007 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 18 |
Individual events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannes Thingnes Bø | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2015 | 2025 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 22 |
| 2 | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 1997 | 2017 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 26 |
| 3 | Martin Fourcade | File:Flag of France.svg France | 2011 | 2020 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 18 |
| 4 | Raphaël Poirée | File:Flag of France.svg France | 1998 | 2007 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 5 | Emil Hegle Svendsen | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2008 | 2016 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Frank Ullrich | File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany | 1978 | 1983 | 5 | 3 | – | 8 |
| 7 | Alexander Tikhonov | File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union | 1969 | 1979 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 8 | Ricco Groß | Template:GER | 1995 | 2005 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 9 | Mark Kirchner | File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany Template:GER |
1990 | 1993 | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| 10 | Eirik Kvalfoss | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 1982 | 1991 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
Women
All events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marte Olsbu Røiseland | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2016 | 2023 | 13 | – | 4 | 17 |
| 2 | Magdalena Neuner | Template:GER | 2007 | 2012 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
| 3 | Tiril Eckhoff | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2015 | 2021 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| 4 | Elena Golovina | File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union | 1985 | 1991 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 5 | Julia Simon | File:Flag of France.svg France | 2021 | 2025 | 10 | – | 3 | 13 |
| 6 | Petra Behle (Schaaf) | File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany Template:GER |
1988 | 1997 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| 7 | Uschi Disl | Template:GER | 1991 | 2005 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 19 |
| 8 | Andrea Henkel | Template:GER | 2000 | 2013 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 16 |
| 9 | Tora Berger | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2006 | 2013 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 18 |
| 10 | Liv Grete Poirée (Skjelbreid) | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 1997 | 2004 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
Individual events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magdalena Neuner | Template:GER | 2007 | 2012 | 6 | 2 | – | 8 |
| 2 | Magdalena Forsberg (Wallin) | File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden | 1996 | 2001 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | Liv Grete Poirée (Skjelbreid) | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2000 | 2004 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | Olena Zubrilova | File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine File:Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus |
1997 | 2005 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Laura Dahlmeier | Template:GER | 2015 | 2019 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| 6 | Tora Berger | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 2008 | 2013 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 7 | Marie Dorin Habert | File:Flag of France.svg France | 2015 | 2016 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | Andrea Henkel | Template:GER | 2005 | 2013 | 4 | 1 | – | 5 |
| 9 | Julia Simon | File:Flag of France.svg France | 2023 | 2025 | 4 | – | 2 | 6 |
| 10 | Petra Schaaf | File:Flag of Germany.svg West Germany Template:GER |
1988 | 1993 | 4 | – | 1 | 5 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Biathlon: a sport on the cutting edge". International Olympic Committee. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
External links
File:Commons-logo.svg Media related to Biathlon World Championships at Wikimedia Commons
- Sports 123 biathlon results Archived 2017-12-25 at the Wayback Machine
Template:Biathlon World Championships Template:Main world championships