Biathlon athlete's strong performance

Biathlon athlete Martin Ponsiluoma impressed with a 54/60 shooting performance at the Loop One Festival in Munich, Germany, last weekend. The Swedish champion, who won Olympic gold in the pursuit in February and is expecting his first child, secured victories in both super sprints at the event.

Athlete's confidence in form

Ponsiluoma noted that his shooting has improved compared to previous seasons and that he is in good form on skis, attributing his success to taking more pleasure and relaxing during the competition. He expressed confidence for the upcoming winter season.

Loop One Festival details

The Loop One Festival 2026, organized by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) in the Olympic Park of Munich, featured two days of competitions. The event attracted a mix of established athletes and newcomers, with various national teams making their selections.

National team selections

Germany announced Philipp Horn and Janina Hettich-Walz as leaders, while Slovakia selected three athletes and Latvia chose Estere Volfa, Renars Birkentals, and Andrejs Rastorgujevs. Lithuania selected Nikita Cigak and Natalja Kocergina, and Ukraine fielded four athletes.

International athlete participation

Italy revealed Lisa Vittozzi as one of its representatives, while Great Britain included Jacques Jefferies and Shawna Pendry. Estonia selected Regina Ermits and Rene Zahkna, and Belgium sent Thierry Langer and Lotte Lie. The Czech Republic did not include Tereza Vobornikova and Marketa Davidova, while Norway fielded all its top stars.

Competition results and reactions

Sweden's Elvira Oeberg and Martin Ponsiluoma led their respective teams, with Ponsiluoma winning the men's qualification for the super sprint. Eric Perrot and the brothers Claude were among the finalists. On Sunday, Lisa Vittozzi, Julia Simon, and Amandine Mengin secured podium finishes, with Vittozzi expressing relief at her victory and focusing on staying healthy for the remainder of the season.

French athlete's success

Océane Michelon, the only French athlete in the women's final, won the first super sprint and shared her confidence for the future. Amandine Mengin, who achieved an unexpected podium finish, expressed her surprise at the result.

New regulations in action

The event also saw the implementation of new IBU regulations on rifle manipulation, which affected several athletes, including the Czech Lucie Charvatova, a Dane, and a Greek competitor.