Ukraine's biathlon teams had an unsuccessful start to the new season.
Relay results in Östersund
The women's team, consisting of Valeria Dmytrenko, Khrystyna Dmytrenko, Olena Horodna and Oleksandra Merkushyna, finished 15th at the first World Cup stage in Östersund, with the athletes not having to ski a single penalty loop. The victory went to France, Italy were second, and the Czech Republic third.
The men's quartet — Artem Tyshchenko, Vitaliy Mandzyn, Bohdan Tsymbal and Dmytro Pidruchnyi — placed ninth. The result could have been worse, but Pidruchnyi improved the team's position on the final leg. The podium top three: Norway, France, Sweden.
Next races and other news
On Sunday in Östersund, the single mixed relay and the traditional mixed relay are scheduled.
Vitaliy Mandzyn was nominated by the IBU for the “Rookie of the Season” award for 2024/25. In the previous championship cycle, the 22-year-old won a bronze in the relay, finished fourth in the individual race and placed 31st in the overall World Cup standings.
Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier died while in the mountainous region of Pakistan.
