USA biathlon team aiming for first Olympic medal, gun may close the gap

midway • One thing America has a lot of is guns.

In fact, according to a 2018 study, the country has about 2.5 times as many guns per capita as Yemen, the war-torn country with the second highest number in the world.

What there isn't a surplus of is elite shooters who ski, or elite skiers who shoot. In any case, as a result, the United States has never won an Olympic medal in biathlon, a sport that combines Nordic skiing and shooting. Additionally, they have only won one World Championship title since 2017 and have never won a World Cup in nearly 60 years of competition.

So don't expect to hear “The Star-Spangled Banner” blaring from Medal Square this weekend at the Biathlon World Cup in Soldier Hollow. Norway's national anthem, led by the Bo brothers, will occupy the top five spots on the men's circuit, and it is much more likely that the national anthems of other European countries, such as France and Sweden, will be sung.

But the sport's national governing body, USA Biathlon, has plans to close the gap. President and CEO Jack Gearhart said the organization, which moved here last fall, plans to acquire its first Olympic hardware in Italy in 2026. Four years later, the hurdle is set at four more medals. That would put the United States in position to do well in 2034, when the Winter Olympics are expected to return to Salt Lake City and Soldier Hollow.

“It's kind of a North Star approach, but there are a lot of factors that support that,” Gearhart said. “When we get to 2030, we want to go all the way, right? It has to be sustainable.”

And keeping it sustainable may include capitalizing on this country's sense of security about guns.

Chasing the Olympic dream

Deidre Irwin entered the 2022 Beijing Olympics knowing she likely had the longest streak on the U.S. women's team, which already had a strong chance of winning a biathlon medal. Like many American children, she grew up playing soccer, swimming, and running cross country. She started cross-country skiing as a teenager. She didn't steadily try biathlon until she graduated from college four years before the Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, most of her European competitions have been on skis since she could walk. It's not uncommon for Norwegian kids to just want to join the national biathlon team instead of dreaming of competing in the NBA or her WNBA. That's because European countries typically invest far more money into the sport than the United States and draw far larger audiences. More than 65,000 fans were expected to attend the World Cup in Germany last month. This weekend's World Cup in Soldier Hollow could draw a quarter of that crowd.

“In European countries, many of the best athletes take up biathlon, but in the United States, the best athletes stick to running or soccer. They are passionate about sports that are popular in your country or culture.”

Biathlon is not only far down the list of America's most popular sports, it's almost completely unknown. That's why raising awareness of the sport is one of his three pillars established in his 2030 Strategic Plan for USA Biathlon. This is the organization's blueprint for winning at least five Olympic medals over the next six years. His other two pillars are investing in high-performance programs that give athletes the tools they need to excel, and establishing a consistent pipeline of talent.

Part of the exposure problem is that biathlon is not an NCAA sport. Not only does this mean fewer opportunities for people to watch races, but it also creates a kinks in the athlete pipeline. Cross-country skiing is an NCAA scholarship sport, so those who might be drawn to biathlon often choose that path instead.

“That's tough to compete with, isn't it?” said Vincent Bonacci, a Salt Lake City native and West High School graduate who led the U.S. men's relay to a historic finish on Friday. “For example, you're his 18-year-old skier who's the best in the country, so you don't think, 'Oh, I'm giving up on riding completely.'” [scholarship] And make it work. No, she will be attending university for four years, but it will be free and fun. ”

So was Irwin, a Wisconsin native who competed in Nordic skiing at Michigan Tech. She intended to continue her track and field career after her graduation until someone put a rifle in her hands and set her on the path of biathlon. Four years later, she beat her personal best in the 15km race in Beijing, finishing seventh, the highest Olympic finish ever for an American biathlete.

Irwin hit 19 of 20 shots in the race. If she had won everything, she would have won the silver medal. She said it was proof that a medal was within reach.

“I came out and I was definitely the last one on the team to get a medal. And just being able to come out that day and everything going well and being one stroke away from a medal. '' said the 31-year-old. “So this is one of those things where I think specifically with that outcome, it opens the door for everyone to know that it can happen to us at any time.

“We put in the work. We know what we're doing. We're great skiers. We're good shooters, so sometimes you have to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Sometimes.”

But after Beijing, Team USA lost two veteran racers in Claire Egan and Susan Dunkley. From now on, we must discover new talent. Gearhart said it wouldn't be surprising if he was seen at a shooting range.

“A lot of kids try this and they love shooting,” he said. “Especially when I talk to parents who have daughters who have gone through that, they feel empowered. There's just something there.”

Building for Olympic success

Just months before US Biathlon relocated from Maine to Midway in September, Soldier Hollow began an impressive overhaul that should benefit the high-performance program. What was once little more than a two-story concrete block hut is now an elegant stadium. It will soon include a team clubhouse, a gym with two treadmills wide enough for roller skis, and an elaborate ski tuning room.

Meanwhile, Gearhart believes the country's success will raise the profile of biathlon. It also helps that the International Biathlon Union has a strong interest in growing the sport in North America as a potential untapped revenue source.

So, of the three pillars of US Biathlon's success, establishing a consistent pipeline of talent is one of the most unstable.

This is where Americans' interest in guns may come into play.

Gearhart acknowledged the difficulty of managing a shooting sports program in a country where firearms ownership can be polarizing. He said he had been negotiating with potential sponsors, but they disappeared after the shooting. But he said he believes biathlon can be an educational resource for safe gun use.

“While there are negative aspects, the majority of this community is comfortable with guns and firearms,” Gearhart said. “They’re kind of the in-between people, like most of us, who like to shoot and like to hunt, right?

“We can take advantage of that because it is a very patriotic group and they want to see us succeed. We want to see Team USA. So from a visibility standpoint, I think this is an opportunity for us.”

It is less clear whether this demographic also presents opportunities from a talent perspective. It stands to reason that if a young athlete is already a sharpshooter, all they have to do is learn how to ski.

Bonacci, a Utah native who learned Nordic skiing when she was 6 years old, said biathlon combines shooting and cross-country skiing, but one skill far outweighs the other.

“You can miraculously hit all the targets, but you can't miraculously skate two minutes faster. Therefore, running fast is more important.”

Irwin agrees that becoming proficient with a hunting rifle, which has a heavy trigger and high recoil, doesn't necessarily translate directly to biathlon. But considering that he missed America's first ever Olympic biathlon podium by one shot, he might disagree with the idea that shooting deserves less respect than skiing.

An athlete needs both to reach the podium.

“I don't know if it's going to happen in '26, if it's going to happen in '30, if it's going to happen in '34. But I think it's going to happen anytime, really,” she said. “I believe our team is on the verge of winning a medal.”

We are told to use our strengths. So as U.S. biathletes seek their first Olympic medal, tapping into the country's gun culture may be Team USA's best chance.

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