Victories in Otepää World Cup relays went to Norway and Sweden

At the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup in Otepää, held at Tehvandi Sports Centre from 12 to 15 March, the single mixed relay and the mixed relay took place on Sunday, 15 March. Norway claimed victory in the single mixed relay, while Sweden topped the podium in the mixed relay.

Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid and Karoline Offigstad Knotten won the single mixed relay, using a total of eight spare rounds between them (0+8). Sweden took the silver medal (3+13; +1:38.1), while Finland claimed bronze (1+15; +1:45.7). After the finish, Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson, part of the silver-medal-winning team, said that Otepää offered a pleasant and spring-like race day. “Sometimes it’s windy and sometimes it’s not — that’s biathlon,” said Samuelsson.

The Estonian team of Mark-Markos Kehva and Johanna Talihärm finished 14th (1+19; +3:34.4). “I think we have to be satisfied. We did our job well. We didn’t exceed ourselves, but we certainly didn’t underperform either,” said Kehva. The support from the home crowd left a deep impression on him. “The Otepää World Cup is a memory for life. The way the weather worked in our favour, the way people enjoyed it, and how many came out — it was an unbelievably amazing feeling,” Kehva added.

Later in the day, the mixed relay took place. Victory went to the Swedish team of Viktor Brandt, Martin Ponsiluoma, Anna-Karin Heijdenberg and Elvira Öberg. Sweden skied one penalty loop in total and used 14 spare rounds. Switzerland won silver (0+6; +28.6), while the United States took bronze (0+14; +34.6).

Switzerland’s anchor Lena Häcki-Gross said after the finish that the key to their team’s success was confident shooting. “All the credit goes to our shooting coach. She has repeatedly assured us that we are capable of handling even the most difficult wind conditions on the range. I like races where the conditions get tough,” Häcki-Gross said.

The Estonian team of Rene Zahkna, Kristo Siimer, Regina Ermits and Susan Külm finished 11th in the mixed relay (4+16; +2:38.1). “Wind makes things exciting, but at that point it was just too windy. There was too much luck involved, and you had to fight and search so much,” said Regina Ermits. According to her, in such conditions previous experience or shooting ability did not play as big a role as usual. “There was very little difference between someone who has done this sport for one year or for ten years,” Ermits added.

According to Ermits, the entire weekend in Otepää was an exceptionally positive experience for the athletes. “We have often felt that Estonia is treated like a little brother. Everyone is always happy when we do well. In the same way, Estonia seems like home to other nations too, because everyone is cheered on regardless of nationality. Estonians support everyone along the course,” said Ermits. “It may seem that a home crowd creates extra nerves, but I didn’t feel that at all. On the contrary, it was all very positive.”

The next international biathlon competition in Otepää will take place next winter, from 10 to 21 February 2027, when the LaVita IBU Biathlon World Championships will be held at Tehvandi Sports Centre. From 14 March, two-week, one-week and weekend passes for the World Championships have been on sale via Piletilevi.