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Happy Victory Day!

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:37:51 +0400

The Russian Biathlon Union congratulates everybody with the 67th anniversary of the Great Victory! On 9 May Russia is celebrating one of the most important holidays. We congratulate all Russian people, and address our special words of gratitude to those great people who fought through that frightful War and sacrificed many things for a bright future of our country. We will never forget your heroic deeds and will never stop to worship the heroes of the Great Patriotic War - people who gave us peace. We wish You, our Dear Veterans, health and many years of happy life!

Happy Victory Day! Hurray!

Russian team’s blog. Wolfgang Pichler: “I just keep doing my job”

Sun, 06 May 2012 18:08:43 +0400

On May 4th, head coach of the women’s team Wolfgang Pichler met the personal coaches of the national team’s athletes. After the meeting the German coach commented on his communication with the personal coaches, talked about confidence in his work, shared his plans for the first training camp and the Champions League final in Munich.

“Hello! How are you doing after a short biathlon lull? On May 4 I visited Moscow once again – I came for a meeting with the personal coaches of the Russian national team’s athletes. This was a great meeting. I am satisfied with it. It is great that we can get to know each other better and talk about our sportsmen. The contact between the team’s coaches and personal coaches is necessary. I want us all to work together. We lacked this contact last season. The personal coaches need to understand how we work in the national team. And I should know individual features of every sportsman.

I know that some serious decisions are still to be made in Russia, but I just keep doing my job. We have no time to be distracted. Sometimes the decisions are made too late and we could miss a lot. We need to start working. Moreover I was sure that I would train the Russian team for the next season – the RBU’s management said I would work with the team, and I fully trust these people. During the past 1,5 months I often visited Moscow – I participated in many meetings. Overall I can assess them positively. For the past few weeks I was busy making training plans and resolving issues regarding training camps. I had to forget about vacations this year. It is hard to work like this, but I am ready to do it.

The Champions League Final between Bavaria and Chelsea I will watch on TV. The final will take place close to Ruhpolding – in Munich, at the same time we will have training camp in Ruhpolding. Entire Germany is going nuts because of this final. In general I support Munich-1860, but here we talk about national prestige. That is why I will support the German club. I do not know if the girls from the national team would want to watch the match. It is better to ask them.

We will have many changes in the preparation for the next season. It is impossible to tell about it briefly. This is a topic for a prolonged discussion, which will be clear only for specialists. The first training camp in Ruhpolding will start very soon. I cannot name it rehabilitation, we will fully train during this training camp, but we will avoid high training tense during the first and second training camps, which will take place in Ruhpolding and Cyprus.

We are staring training in a difficult situation — only five biathletes out of 11 will train in Ruhpolding. Olga Zaitseva and Anna Bogaliy-Titovets will have special training individual programs. We have talked to them and their personal coaches, discussed training plans and agreed that as they are sportsmen and mothers at the same time it will be more comfortable to train individually. Olga Vilukhina will also start training alone, as she is passing exams in the University. Another three sportsmen — Svetlana Sleptsova, Ekaterina Glazyrina and Anna Bulygina are recovering after the traumas and surgeries. They will also have special programs. I count on all of these girls. They will join the team later.

Yes our beginning is hard. But we also have some advantages now – we understand better what our situations is and what our conditions are. We have an analysis of the right and wrong decisions of the past season. The sportsmen, their personal coaches and I have a good mutual understanding. If we could manage to start working in cooperation from May and continue throughout the whole year – we could have a very interesting season!”

Photo gallery

Olga Zaitseva: "We discussed my training plans with Wolfgang Pichler"

Sat, 05 May 2012 16:42:12 +0400

Biathlete of the Russian team Olga Zaitseva shared with Biathlonrus.com her training plans for the next season. At the moment Olga is training in Moscow, after that she will have a taining camp in Gelendzhik. Zaitseva will join the national team at the training camp in June.

"Yesterday we discussed my training plans with head coach of the team Wolfgang Pichler. The other girls and I got the individual training plans. In May I will train alone and in June will join the team. I have already started training, just as it was planned before. I do power training, running, cycling. From the 10th of May I will train in Gelendzhik. I will go there with my child - I am thankful to the coaching staff for their understanding."

Biathletes of the women's national team started their training for the next season

Sat, 05 May 2012 16:10:45 +0400

Today, on the 5th of May the national women's team left for it's first training camp in Ruhpolding. Five biathletes will train at the first training camp - Ekaterina Shumilova, Anastasia Zagoruiko, Marina Korovina, Yana Romanova and Ekaterina Yurlova. Olga Zaitseva, Anna Bogaliy-Titovets, Svetlana Sleptsova, Ekaterina Glazyrina, Anna Bulygina, Olga Vilukhina will start their training according to the individual programs, approved by the coaching staff of the Russian women's team. The athletes will join the team's training camps later. The national team will stay in Ruhpolding from the 5th till 11th of May and after that will leave for the second training camp in Cyprus, which will last till May 23.

"We are starting training in a difficult situation - only five biathletes out of 11 will train in Ruhpolding," commented head coach of the women's national team Wolfgang Pichler. "Olga Zaitseva and Anna Bogaliy-Titovets will have special training individual programs. We have talked to them and their personal coaches, discussed training plans and agreed that as they are sportsmen and mothers at the same time it will be more comfortable to train individually. Olga Vilukhina will also start training alone, as she is passing exams in the University. Another three sportsmen - Svetlana Sleptsova, Ekaterina Glazyrina and Anna Bulygina are recovering after the traumas and surgeries. They will also have special programs. I count on all of these girls. They will join the team later."

Women's national team: Ekaterina Shumilova, Anastasia Zagoruiko, Marina Korovina, Yana Romanova, Ekaterina Yurlova, Olga Zaitseva, Anna Bogaliy-Titovets, Svetlana Sleptsova, Ekaterina Glazyrina, Anna Bulygina, Olga Vilukhina.

Wolfgang Pichler met personal coaches of the national team's sportsmen

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Autograph-Cards for our foreign supporters!

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:35:57 +0400

The RBU announces start of the new series autograph-cards' distribution for our foreign supporters! The new series includes cards with the photos of a joint project of the Russian Biathlon Union and Adidas «We could have done any sport, but we chose biathlon!» To get real autographs of the Russian biathletes one needs to choose 3 Russian athletes, send us an envelope with the filled back-address and attached stamps and wait for the letter with autograph-cards!

The address of the RBU, Europe: 76057, Germany, Karlsruhe, Postfach 11 07 36. The letter should include an empty envelope with stamps attached, addresses of recipient (your home address) and sender (the RBU). Please, provide us also with information which autograph-cards do you need. In accordance with the weight standards of letters, one letter should include no more than 3 autograph-cards.

In order to calculate the right stamps’ value for your country, please, use the following link.

Important remark! This distribution is only for the fans outside of Russia. For distribution within the Russian Federation, please, refer to the following link.

Autograph-Cards:

Anna Bogaliy-Titovets, two-time Olympic champion

Olga Vilukhina, Bronze-medalist of the world championship

Evgeny Garanichev, winner of the world cup's race

Ekaterina Glazyrina, prize-winner of the world cup

Olga Zaitseva, two-time Olympic champion

Andrey Makoveev, winner of the world cup's race

Dmitry Malyshko, prize-winner of the world cups

Yana Romanova, winner of the world cup's race

Svetlana Sleptsova, Olympic champion

Evgeny Ustyugov, Olympic champion

Anton Shipulin, bronze-medalist of the Olympic Games

Russian Coaching Staff Restructures

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Like so many other countries have done recently, Russia has restructured its coaching staff.

Photo exhibition

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:24:13 +0400

Summing up the results of the season Biathlonrus.com gave an opportunity to express his view of biathlon to the person, who made us happy with his work behind the camera during the whole season. Photographer of the RBU’s Media Office Evgeny Tumashov laboriously gathered the best shots of the season. There you can find “the girl with the golden hair” and “the fine young man”, and an assembly of the great photos – enjoy a set of the top-shots at Biathlonus.com.

1. "The girl with the golden hair". In Hochfilzen Olga Zaitseva won the first Gold of the season for the national team. Duing the whole season Olga was the real leader and captain of the team.

2. "It's in the helmet". Evgeny Garanichev did great at the Norwegian world cup. From Holmenkollen Evgeny brought not only the Gold of the sprint but also a gilded helmet. This season the members of the men’s team were stable winning the medals by turns.

3. "Test is completed". The first test competition in Sochi took place in February 2012. The local complex has already been successfully tested by the Russian cup. The best biathletes of the world will come here next year to participate in the pre-Olympic world cup.

4. "Chose biathlon!" The project “We could have done any sport, but chose biathlon” echoed with the thousands of positive comments. Our team has decided to tell the whole world – we are proud with our sport and we are happy to be in biathlon!

5. "Breakthrough of the year". Olga Vilukhina was among the promising athletes for a long time, but only this season she revealed herself truly. Olga’s stable top-10 performance during the world cups led to the Bronze of the World Championship in Ruhpolding.

6. "The fine young man". Anton Shipulin also won the Bronze of the pursuit at the World Champioship in Ruhpolding. Let us add here his charitable exploits and we get the real fine young man.

7. "Ever-youthful". The king of biathlon – Ole Einar Bjoerndalen – has already turned 38, but he is still able to give battle to his younger competitors. This season Bjoerndalen added to his collection another two gold medals of the world championships.

8. "Auf Wiedersehen, Lena". Magdalena Neuner said goodbye to biathlon. Two-time Olympic champion and twelve-time world champion said “Auf Wiedersehen” to sport at the home world championship in Ruhpolding. The German athlete will hang up her rifle and start another non-sport life.

9. "National endow". The Russian team won three Crystal Globes in the season – Nation cups of the men’s and women’s teams and the first place in the mixed relays’ scores.

10. "Always there for us". Russian fans supported the team at all the tournaments without exception. We are thankful to all of you, who are stuck by us in good times and bad!

100 best photos of the season

100 best shots of the season

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Photographer of the RBU's Media Office Evgeny Tumashov gathered 100 best photos of the season in one gallery.

Olga Zaitseva had a meeting with pupils and teachers of the school 629

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:34:22 +0400

Nikolay Lopukhov and Wolfgang Pichler - decision of the RBU Executive Board

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:09:17 +0400

The RBU Executive Board’s members have heard suggestions of the Coaches and Expert Councils, made conclusions upon the past season and determined prospects for the next one. Biathlonrus.com publishes the key decisions of the Executive Board – to abolish the position of the national team’s head coach, appoint Lopukhov and Pichler as head coaches of the men’s and women’s teams, and confirm the lists of candidates for the next season.

A meeting of the RBU Executive Board took place on April 19^th in Moscow. One of the main decisions of the meeting was to change the structure of the coaching staff – according to the Coaches Council’s suggestion the position of the national team’s head coach was abolished. Dmitry Aleksashin, a member of the RBU EB, says that this decision reflects the need to determine specialists responsible for decision making process and results.

“The decision was dictated only by one reason – there should be no diarchy. There should be either the institute of head coach of the team or head coaches of the women’s and men’s team,” commented Aleksashin. “However we need a person who will form communication within all teams. This person’s tasks are different from those of the head coach – a so called sport director has these functions in European teams.”

The Executive Boards suggested Nikolay Lopukhov (men’s team) and Wolfgang Pichler (women’s team) as the head coaches. These specialists were among leaders of the poll at the Coaches Council.

“We conducted a poll among members of the Coaches Council (consists of 62 people). 52 coaches sent their proposals on the head coaches’ candidatures back to us,” commented state coach Vladimir Barnashov. “The decision which was made by the Executive Board meets the opinion of the Coaches Council. Nikolay Lopukhov polled most votes for the position of the men’s team head coach, Wolfgang Pichler – women’s team, and Alexander Kasperovich – junior and youth teams.”

Head coaches of the women’s and men’s teams will coordinate two teams each – main and reserve. Andrey Gerbulov will work with Lopukhov in the main team; Mikhail Tkachenko will be responsible for the reserve team. Pavel Rostovtsev will continue working with Wolfgang Pichler in the main women’s team, Leonid Guriev is invited to work with reserve. Alexander Kasperovich will head all the junior and youth teams.

The decision of the RBU's Executive Board is to be approved till April 25th in the Sports Ministry of Russia.

Olga Zaitseva and Ivan Tcherezov had meeting with their fans in Moscow

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:08:06 +0400

On Saturday, April 21st, two-time Olympic champion Olga Zaitseva and two-time Olympic medalist Ivan Tcherezov had a meeting with their fans in Moscow. The fans, who came to the meeting to the "Ski world" shop had an opportunity to talk to their favourite athletes, take photos and get autographs.

"I have just returned from Kamchatka today, it was very sunny there," said sunburnt Ivan Tcherezov. "It is great that out supporters come to the meetings like this, that they are interested in biathlon. Sometimes we have no time to give autographs or take pictures with everyone during competitions. It is much easier to do it at the meetings like this - we have more time here. The meeting's organizers say we signed and gave away more than 500 autograph cards today."

TV Ratings

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:43:28 +0400

Past biathlon season brought not only 28 podiums to the Russian team, but also noticeably increased TV ratings of biathlon. Specially for Biathlonrus.com Pavel Kopachev noticed how the main winter sport competed successfully with football and hockey for the past four months.

Biathlon TV ratings in Russia grew almost by 30 percent comparing to the last season. Figures of the season 2011/2012 were the best during the past six years. Audience’s interest as well as visits of the internet pages is directly related to successful performance of the Russian team, which had 28 podiums in the past season. For the full TV triumph we probably lacked just a crowned world championship.

2,2 is an average rating of the season. The world cups in Antholz and Holmenkollen (2,6) and the world championship in Ruhpolding (4,6) had the best ratings. The men’s pursuit race in Ruhpolding (4,6) was the most popular race of the season and was translated by the First Chanel.

Without Eurosport. Important remark: average biathlon ratings do not count the Eurosport’s indicators, which broadcasted all races of the world cup. This means that the final figures could be higher.

TV ratings of the world cup

Season-2006/07 – 8,5 / 2

Season -2007/08 – 8,2 / 1,9

Season -2008/09 – 7,5 / 1,9

Season -2009/10 – 6,9 / 1,8

Season -2010/11 – 5,9 / 1,6

Season -2011/12 - 7,8 / 2,2

Ruhpolding > Khanty-Mansiysk. This year’s tournament was more popular than the last year’s despite the fact that both of the world champions – 2011 and 2012 – were unlucky for the Russian national team. Rating grew by 0,6. Figures do not lie. The most successful championship (Ostersund 2008, 11 medals) had the record audience, and the most scandalous one (Pyeongchang-2009, doping scandal) – was just a little bit behind and was followed by a logical decline.

TV rating of the world championships

Antholz-2007 – 9,3 / 2,2

Ostersund-2008 – 15,6 / 3,8

Pyeongchang -2009 – 18,1 / 3,5

Khanty-Mansiysk-2011 – 11,1 / 2,2

Ruhpoldging-2012 — 9,5 / 2,8

Competition against football. Average rating, which is a key indicator of the TNS’s research, is keeping biathlon among the headliners of the winter sports. Online translations of the world cups and world championships had lower ratings only than the football euro cups, but consistently outperformed matches of the Russian and English premier leagues.

World cup 2011/2012

1^st cup (Ostersund) – 4,8 / 1,4

The most popular race: women’s pursuit (1 December) – 5,8 / 1,6

2^nd cup (Hochfilzen) – 6,6 / 1,8

The most popular race: women’s relay эстафета (11 December) – 8,5 / 2,6

3^rd cup (Hochfilzen) – 8,6 / 2,2

The most popular race: mixed relay (18 December, Russia – 1^st place) – 10,2 / 3,2

4^th cup (Oberhof) – 6,5 / 2,3

The most popular race: men’s mass-start (8 January) – 7,6 / 2,6

5^th cup (Nove Mesto) – 8,7 / 2,4

The most popular race: men’s pursuit (15 January) – 9,1 / 3

6^th cup (Antholz) – 9,4 / 2,6

The most popular race: men’s relay (22 January) – 9,5 / 3,3

7^th cup (Holmenkollen) – 8,5 / 2,6

The most popular race: men’s mass-start (5 February) – 8,7 / 3

8^th cup (Kontiolahti) – 9,2 / 2,3

The most popular race: women’s pursuit (12 February) – 10 / 2,8

9^th cup (Khanty-Mansiysk) – 7,5 / 1,8

The most popular race: women’s pursuit (17 March) – 8,5 / 2,2

For the past two years the main winter sport had the higher ratings only at the Olympics 2010. Here is a list of the top-5 Vancouver’s races:

Men’s relay (First Channel) – 25,5 / 7,1

Women’s relay (Russia 1) – 25,1 / 6,9

Women’s pursuit (First Channel) – 16,9 / 6,4

Women’s individual race (First Channel) – 17,2 / 6,4

Men’s mass-start (First Channel) – 14,8 / 5,2

World championship 2012

Women’s relay, 10 March (First Channel) – 12,1 / 4,1

Mixed relay, 1 March (First Channel) – 13 / 3,7

Men’s relay, 9 March (Russia 2) – 9,6 / 3,1

Men’s sprint, 3 March (First Channel) – 11,3 / 2,9

Women’s mass-start, 11 March (Russia 2) – 7,4 / 2,5

Women’s pursuit, 4 March (Russia 2) – 7 / 2,5

Women’s individual race, 7 March (Russia 2) – 8 / 2,2

Men’s mass-start, 11 March (Russia 2) – 7 / 2

Men’s individual race, 6 March (Russia 2) – 7 / 1,9

Women’s sprint, 3 March (Russia 2) – 5,5 / 1,8

Men’s pursuit, 4 March (First Channel) – 17,1 / 1,3

Russia versus Germany. Russian ratings are high, but stably lower than German (appx by three times). Our audience has not reached 100 mln yet, and in Germany (excluding Olympic season) it is higher than 200 mln.

More than milliard. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which counts ratings of all the on-lines, replays and biathlon TV-shows, has not provided the IBU with the data of the year 2012. But we can assume (especially taking into account the dynamics of the past years) that the total amount of viewers has overgrew 1 mlrd people in season. In the season 2011 the audience has increased by 100 mln people.

Andrey Makoveev's meeting with the kids from the sports school

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

No more drugs in my biathlon team - Russia coach Pichler

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:07:48 +0400

Video interview with the women's head coach Wolfgang Pichler

Lukas Hofer: "Level of competition in Kamchatka is close to that at the world cup"

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:20:20 +0400

Italian biathlete Lukas Hofer commented on his victory in the pursuit race in Kamchatka:

"Everyone wants to win the race. It is not so easy to do it in Kamchatka as the level of competitions here is close to that at the world cups. I thought that Bjoern Ferry would run faster at the last lap. I wanted to let him to lead at the finish line, but he refused. I won with the finish spurt. It was a great race for me."

Lukas Hofer finished first in pursuit in Kamchatka

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:11:51 +0400

Italian biathlete Lukas Hofer finished first in the pursuit race in Kamchatka. Swedish Bjoern Ferry placed second, another Swedish biathlete Carl Johan Bergman finished third. Alexey Trusov was the best among the Russians finishing fifth.

Lukas Hofer: “Level of competition in Kamchatka is close to that at the world cup”

Kaisa Makarainen: "It was hard to gather my strength after the 10th place in sprint"

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:58:52 +0400

Finnish biathlete Kaisa Makarainen commented on her victory in the pursuit race in Kamchatka:

"It was hard to gather my strength after the 10th place in sprint. Of course you need to believe in yourself in every race. If you think before the start that you'are staring from the 10th position and could not win anyway, nothing good is going to happen. The most difficult moment of the race was the last lap. I am really glad I could win. We are all tired in the end of the season. Everyone is giving away their last energy."

Kaisa Makarainen won pursuit in Kamchatka

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:41:12 +0400

Kaisa Makarainen, Finland, won the pursuit race at the Gazprom cup — prize in honour of Vitaly Fatianov in Kamchatka. Ukrainian Vita Semerenko finished second, Jana Gerekova - third.

Gazprom cup — prize in honour of Vitaly Fatianov. Kamchatka. Women. Pursuit

1. Kaisa Makarainen (Finland)

2. Vita Semerenko (Ukraine)

3. Jana Gerekova (Slovakia)

Kaisa Makarainen: “It was hard to gather my strength after the 10th place in sprint”

Champions race 2012. Best moments

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Pursuit races in Kamchatka

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Sprint races in Kamchatka

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:10:06 +0400

Bjoern Ferry: "Probably this was my best race in the season"

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:58:48 +0400

Swedish biathlete Bjoern Ferry commented on his victory in the sprint race in Kamchatka:

"Probably this was my best race in the season. I am glad I won. I am a little bit sick, that is why my victory was a surprise for me. May be next season I need to get sick specially before the important starts.

Synnoeve Solemdal and I are in Russia for a long time already. I think that the other sportsmen did not train so much. Michael Greis has probably drunk beer in Germany all this time.

The weather was okay today. I am from a Nothern part of Sweden and we have the same weather. However we have no volcanoes. I have not seen so many things in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - the monument of Lenin, for example. He is pointing to the USA."

Bjoern Ferry was the best in sprint in Kamchatka

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:46:00 +0400

Swedish biathlete Bjoern Ferry was the best in the sprint race at the Gazprom cup — prize in honour of Vitaly Fatianov in Kamchatka. Norwegian Lars Berger finished second, Swedish Carl Johan Bergman - third.

Gazprom cup — prize in honour of Vitaly Fatianov. Kamchatka. Men. Sprint

1. Bjoern Ferry (Sweden) – 26.10,2 (0)

2. Lars Berger (Norway) +15,1 (1)

3. Carl Johan Bergman (Sweden) +25,9 (2)

4. Simon Fourcade (France) +35,4 (2)

5. Alexey Slepov (Russia) +37,0 (2)

Bjoern Ferry: “Probably this was my best race in the season”

Synnoeve Solemdal: "I did not expect the weather like this in Kamchatka"

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:40:47 +0400

Norwegian biathlete Synnoeve Solemdal commented on her victory in the sprint race in Kamchatka:

"I thought I could not win here. A lot of strong sportsmen compete here. My skis worked very well, and my shooting was not bad. I am in a good shape now.

The weather disturbed me a little bit before the start, but when you are in the race you do not think about it. I did not expect the weather like this in Kamchatka. But in Norway we also have some times snow in April.

The season is almost finished - I hope I will have my vacations soon."

Synnoeve Solemdal won sprint in Kamchatka

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:22:02 +0400

Norwegian biathlete Synnoeve Solemdal won the sprint race at the Gazprom cup - prize in honour of Vitaly Fatianov in Kamchatka. Vita Semerenko placed second, Valya Semerenko - third. Natalia Sorokina was the best among the Russian women, placing fourth.

Gazprom cup - prize in honour of Vitaly Fatianov. Kamchatka. Women. Sprint

1. Synnoeve Solemdal (Norway) - 23:18.8 (2).

2. Vita Semerenko (Ukraine) +25.6 (0).

3. Valya Semerenko (Ukraine) +27,.8 (0).

4. Natalia Sorokina (Russia) +33,6 (0).

Synnoeve Solemdal: “I did not expect the weather like this in Kamchatka”

Video about a preparation of Kamchatka for a biathlon tournament

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:23:52 +0400

KamchatkaExtreme represents an exclusive video of biathlon in Kamchatja. The preparation to the tournament in Kamchatka is in the video below:

106 biathletes will start in the sprint races in Kamchatka

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:58:27 +0400

61 men and 45 women will start in the sprint races in Petropavlovk-Kamchatsky. Women's sprint will start at 2:00 (GMT+1), men's sprint at 4:00 (GMT+1) on April 13. Marin Bolliet, France, will open the women's sprint, Artem Prima, Ukraine - men's race.

Final rating of the RBU and Russian cup

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:07:23 +0400

The Russian championship in Uvat and Russian cup in Tyumen did not noticably correct the RBU's rating with Olga Zaitseva (1616 points) heading the final list. Olga Vilukhina (1414 points) placed second, Svetlana Sleptsova (1250) - third. Anton Shipulin (1430 points) was the best in the season among the Russian men, leaving Evgeny Garanichev (1389) and Dmitry Malyshko (1327) behind.

Alexey Churin and Anastasia Zagoruiko won the Russian cup, with Churin winning the cup in the last race of the season, where he placed fourth and won in the total list over Dmitry Yaroshenko.

Views of Kamchatka

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:22:11 +0400

In Russia with love

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:18:54 +0400

The Champions race 2012 took place in Moscow on April 7. The leading biathletes of the world had a serious competition and were supported by the Russian fans that came to the stadium even despite of the cold weather. Atmosphere of the cozy event, Martin Fourcade with Emil Hegle Svendsen holding their hands at the finish, surprising choice of Zaitseva, and family duet Shipulin-Kuzmina are in the photo reportage of Biathlonrus.com.

The supporters started to fill Luzhniki from 8 a.m. – four hours before the first race. The real biathlon fans could not be stopped even by the cold capital weather. The organizers warmed the fans up with mulled wine and music.

The veterans opened the competition program. With the help of drawing sportsmen decided who of the veterans would determine their starting number. After that the honored sportsmen determined the sportsmen’s order for mass-starts.

Women were first to run the mass-start. It is a well-known fact that clean shooting is a key point of success at show races. This was also the case this time. Olga Zaitseva and Marie Dorin Aber – two biathletes with zeroes at all four shootings – fought for the victory. After the last shooting Dorin Aber was leading the race and saved her advantage to the finish.

Nobody was clean in the men’s race. Slovenian Jakov Fak finished the race first, Anton Shipulin placed second, Emil Hegle Svendsen – third, pulled forward by French Martin Fourcade at the finish. Ivan Tcherezov finished tenth, gathering the applause of the public.

Many of the duets of the mixed relay were quite expected. Marie Dorin Aber chose Martin Fourcade – together they won the Champions race 2011. Anton Shipulin decided to run with his sister Anastasia Kuzmina. And Olga Zaitseva picked Ole Einar Bjoerndalen to her team. Later she explained her decision: “I chose him because we are both old.”

Finnish-Sweden team Kaisa Makarainen/Bjoern Ferry celebrated the victory in the relay. At the last meters of the distance Ferry defended his first position from attacks of Anton Shipulin, leaving the family duet at the second place. Marie Dorin Aber and Martin Fourcade won Bronze.

«It was my and Nastya's dream to win the Champions race from the moment we had heard about it. We are glad to be on the podium today. We will keep participating in the Champions race until we win,” commented after the race Anton Shipulin. “I am not upset that Bjoern Ferry did not let me win. This is sport and we need to keep fighting till the end. I would do the same. He is a real monster, but next year I will revenge.”

At the press-conference after the race all the prize-winners confirmed they would love to come back to Moscow next year. Martin Fourcade said he would wait for the invitation for the next year’s race right after the finish of the race: “I am a little bit disappointed with the result… It is a joke! Of course I am happy. The atmosphere was fantastic today. It is great that spectators support us so well even despite of such a bad weather. I would love to participate in the Champions Race 2013.»

First training in Kamchatka

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Anastasia Kuzmina: "I am thankful to the girls that they did not take Anton from me"

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:55:50 +0400

Slovakian biathlete Anastasia Kuzmina commented on her second place in the mixed relay of the Champions race in Moscow. In the mixed relay Anastasia participated with her brother Anton Shipulin.

"I am thankful to the girls that they did not take Anton from me during the drawing. Of couse I wanted to perform well and I am glad that I managed my shooting. I was worried for Anton. We wanted to win today, but this is sport."

Anastasia also stressed that after Neuner's and Eckholm's leave the competition in the women's biathlon will not get less intense: "The competition will not get any easier. Generations are constantly changing in biathlon. We have new leaders every season."

Anton Shipulin: "Ferry is a real monster, but next year I will revenge"

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:36:42 +0400

Russian biathlete Anton Shipulin commented on his second place in the mixed relay at the Champions race in Moscow:

"It was my and Nastya's dream to win the Champions race from the moment we heard about it. We are glad to be on the podium today. We will keep participating in the Champions race until we win.

I am not upset that Bjoern Ferry did not let me win. This is sport and we need to keep fighting till the end. I would do the same. He is a real monster, but next year I will revenge."

Officials at the Champions race 2012

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Party in NOA after the Champions Race

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Marie Dorin Aber: "I enjoyed Moscow, it was not too cold"

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:20:46 +0400

French biathlete Marie Dorin Aber commented on her third place in the mixed relay at the Champions race in Moscow:

"Everything is okay, I am not frozen at all. I can only repeat Martin's words that everything was just great. This event is very good. I am glad to be here. I will gladly come to Moscow next year.

What do you think about Maglanea Neuner's leave? I am not as good as she is. But I will train hard to approach her highs."

Martin Fourcade: "I would love to participate in the Champions race 2013"

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:04:57 +0400

French biathete Martin Foucrade commented on his third place in the mixed relay at the Champions race:

"Last year together with Marie Dorin we won the mixed relay at the Champions race. And last year we decided that we would come back to Moscow if we get the invitation. We wanted to run together. I am a little bit disappointed with the result... It is a joke! Of course I am happy. The atmosphere was fantastic today. It is great that spectators support us so well even despite of such a bad weather. I would love to participate in the Champions Race 2013."

Bjoern Ferry: "I fought against Shipulin like a monstor"

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:31:56 +0400

Swedish biathlete Bjoern Ferry comented on his victory in the mixed relay at the Champions race in Moscow:

"I fought against Shipulin like a monstor. I blocked the way to Anton at the finish line. I am really glad we won. I did not expect to win after the nice party yesterday night. I will definitely come to Moscow next year if I am invited.

I have a lot of fans in Russia. I notice it by the comments in my Twitter and official web-page. But I do not have Facebook and VKontakte."

Kaisa Makarainen: "I would always choose Swedish to my team"

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:23:25 +0400

Finnish biathlete Kaisa Makarainen commented on her victory at the Champions race 2012:

"I did not think of my victory before the race. When Bjoern Ferry picked me I remembered the race in Geksenkirchen. In Germany I ran the mixed-relay with Carl Johan Bergman and we won. That is why I was sure everything would be okay, as I ran with the Swedish guy again. It would be great if we could have biathlete of different nations in one team in mixed relays at the world cups. I would always choose Swedish biathletes to my team.

I really like Russian fans. I know them well, as there are always many Russian fans at the world cups in Kontiolahti."

Kaisa Makarainen and Bjoern Ferry won the Champions race in Moscow

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:02:46 +0400

Kaisa Makarainen and Bjoern Ferry won in the mixed relay at the Champions race in Moscow. Anastasia Kuzmina and Anton Shipulin placed second. Marie Dorin Aber and Martin Fourcade finished third.

Champions race. Moscow. Mixed relay

1. (Bib 6) Kaisa Makarainen (Finand)/Bjoern Ferry (Sweden) - 35:54,9 (1)

2. (Bib 4) Anastasia Kuzmina (Slovakia)/Anton Shipulin (Russia) +0,5 (2)

3. (Bib 1) Marie Dorin Aber (France)/Martin Fourcade (France) +5,3 (3)

4. (Bib 2) Daria Domracheva (Belarus)/Jakov Fak (Slovenia) +5,4 (5)

5. (Bib 8) Sunnoeve Solemdal (Norway)/Andreas Birnbacher (Germany) +14,7 (3)

6. (Bib 3) Olga Zaitseva (Russia)/Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Norway) +20,7 (1)

7. (Bib 7) Vita Semerenko (Ukraine)/Tarjei Boe (Norway) +1:20,4 (4)

8. (Bib 5) Olga Vilukhina (Russia)/Emil Hegle Svendsen (Norway) +1:20,8 (5)

9. (Bib 10) Valya Semerenko (Ukraine)/Ivan Tcherezov (Russia) +1:54,1 (3)

10. (Bib 9) Tina Bachmann (Germany)/Simon Fourcade (France) +2:14,9 (6)

Jakov Fak was the best in the men's mass-start at the Champions race

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:49:59 +0400

Slovenian Jakov Fak won the men's mass-start at the Campions race in Moscow. Anton Shipulin finished second, Emil Hegle Svendsen - third.

Champions race. Moscow. Mass-start. Men

1. (Bib 1) Jakov Fak (Slovenia) – 14:21,5 (0+0+0+1)

2. (Bib 2) Anton Shipulin (Russia) +8,7 (0+0+1+0)

3. (Bib 8) Emil Hegle Svendsen (Norway) +19,2 (1+0+0+0)

4. (Bib 7) Martin Fourcade (France) +19,4 (0+1+0+0)

5. (Bib 4) Bjoern Ferry (Sweden) +27,1 (0+0+0+2)

6. (Bib 6) Andreas Birnbacher (Germany) +34,3 (0+2+1+0)

7. (Bib 10) Tarjei Boe (Norway) +43,7 (1+0+1+2)

8. (Bib 5) Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Norway) +47,1 (0+4+1+1)

9. (Bib 3) Simon Fourcade (France) +50,0 (1+0+1+2)

10. (Bib 9) Ivan Tchrezov (Rusia) +1:37,1 (3+0+0+1)

Marie Dorin Aber won the mass-start at the Champions race

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:42:49 +0400

French Marie Dorin Aber won the mass-start at the Moscow Champions Race-2012. Olga Zaitseva finished second, Olga Vilukhina - third.

Champions race. Moscow. Mass-start. Women

1. (Bib 3) Marie Dorin Aber (France) - 15:36.2 (0+0+0+0)

2. (Bib 9) Olga Zaitseva (Russia) +8.4 (0+0+0+0)

3. (Bib 1) Olga Vilukhina (Russia) +12.4 (0+1+0+0)

4. (Bib 6) Anastasia Kuzmina (Slovakia) +12.5 (0+1+0+0)

5. (Bib 7) Vita Semerenko (Ukraine) +31.0 (0+1+0+0)

6. (Bib 8) Daria Domracheva (Belarus) +35.5 (0+0+0+1)

7. (Bib 2) Synnoeve Solemdal (Norway) +36.0 (1+1+0+1)

8. (Bib 5) Kaisa Makarainen (Finland) +39.5 (1+1+0+1)

9. (Bib 10) Tina Bachmann (Germany) +47.8 (0+0+1+1)

10. (Bib 4) Valya Semerenko (Ukraine) +49.1 (0+0+2+0)

Biathletes in Moscow

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Champions race in Luzhniki

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Last preparations before the Champions race

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Press conference of the Champions Race 2012

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400

Alexey Volkov won pursuit at the Russian cup in Tyumen

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:37:06 +0400

Alexey Volkov won the pursuit race at the Russian cup for the Tyumen gouvernor's prize. Andrey Makoveev finished second, Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen - third.

Prize of the Tyumen's gouvernor. Tyumen. Pursuit. Men

1. Alexey Volkov (Russia) - 38.02,4 (1)

2. Andrey Makoveev (Russia) +38,4 (1)

3. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Norway) +1.44,7 (4)

Daria Domracheva won pursuit at the Russian cup in Tyumen

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:31:34 +0400

Daria Domracheva, Belarus, won the pursuit race at the Russian cup for the Tyumen gouvernor's prize. Valentina Nazarova finished second, Anastasia Zagoruika - third.

Prize of the Tyumen's gouvernor. Tyumen. Pursuit. Women

1. Daria Domracheva (Belarus) - 35.18,5 (7)

2. Valentina Nazarova (Russia) +13,9 (1)

3. Anastasia Zagoruiko (Russia) +18,0 (3)

Pursuit races at the Russian cup in Tyumen

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0400