Biathlon Discussion | Qualification to Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026

[Grassmarket 4,156]

More urban summer biathlon this Sunday, from Dresden

 

Eurovision Sport | Mediacard - Biathlon | EVS_250831_20250831CBIDresden_1_event

 

Participants etc.  Small but varied fields. 

 

Biathlon: the full programme for the City Biathlon Dresden, a show organised in a football stadium in which Océane Michelon, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Eric Perrot will be taking part on Sunday | Nordic Mag | N°1 Biathlon | Nordic skiing

Edited August 27, 2025 by Grassmarket

[George_D 1,474]

No Neutral Athletes in Biathlon in Milano Cortina 2026

 

https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/olympic-games-biathlon-qualification-milano-cortina-2026/SGxoAWSfNByUtGeaxZfHm

[prso1000 728]

4 hours ago, George_D said:

No Neutral Athletes in Biathlon in Milano Cortina 2026

 

https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/olympic-games-biathlon-qualification-milano-cortina-2026/SGxoAWSfNByUtGeaxZfHm

The article doesn’t say anything about neutral athletes. 
 

theoretically Russian and Belarus athletes could and probably would get some od the remaining individual quotas in case they are allowed to participate in the World Cup next Season. 

Edited September 2, 2025 by prso1000

[George_D 1,474]

3 minutes ago, prso1000 said:

The article doesn’t say anything about neutral athletes. 
 

theoretically Russian and Belarus could and probably would get some od the remaining individual quotas in case they are allows to participate in the World Cup. 

The remaining 24 places – 12 men and 12 women – will be awarded individually based on the IBU qualifying points list as of 18 January 2026, following the BMW IBU World Cup in Ruhpolding (GER). Only athletes who are eligible to compete in IBU competitions and who represent NOCs that have not already secured quotas via the World Cup Nations Cup score will be able to qualify.

Edited September 2, 2025 by George_D

[prso1000 728]

38 minutes ago, George_D said:

The remaining 24 places – 12 men and 12 women – will be awarded individually based on the IBU qualifying points list as of 18 January 2026, following the BMW IBU World Cup in Ruhpolding (GER). Only athletes who are eligible to compete in IBU competitions and who represent NOCs that have not already secured quotas via the World Cup Nations Cup score will be able to qualify.

I don’t think that’s excluding Russia/Belarus.  The crucial question is will they start at the World Cup or not. I don’t know if there was a decision or not. 
I hope not, as that would reduce Croatias chances substantially to get 3 quotas (2m/1w). 

[avlar 492]

19 minutes ago, prso1000 said:

I don’t think that’s excluding Russia/Belarus.  The crucial question is will they start at the World Cup or not. I don’t know if there was a decision or not. 
I hope not, as that would reduce Croatias chances substantially to get 3 quotas (2m/1w). 

The most recent news on this were that russia and belarus will miss biathlon tournament at the Winter Olympics.

They cannot get wild-cards. Because quotas can be obtained only by the NOCs competeing at the international torunaments. And IBU did not implement "neuthral status" at all (instead they have introduced Biathlon Refugee Team). So they have no way to compete to gain points and obtain quotas.

The only way hove it may change - sudden finish of the war. But we do not expect with all these "the next 2 weeks will be crucial for peace" lasting for months.

[copravolley 565]

3 hours ago, avlar said:

The most recent news on this were that russia and belarus will miss biathlon tournament at the Winter Olympics.

They cannot get wild-cards. Because quotas can be obtained only by the NOCs competeing at the international torunaments. And IBU did not implement "neuthral status" at all (instead they have introduced Biathlon Refugee Team). So they have no way to compete to gain points and obtain quotas.

The only way hove it may change - sudden finish of the war. But we do not expect with all these "the next 2 weeks will be crucial for peace" lasting for months.

It depends on whether a stop the fight in teory, like the one in Donbas from 2015 to 2022 is considered the stop of the war, stop the fight, or what?(the peace terms were violated back then, too). In the case of Russia, they are no longer a major force in biathlon. Their return could more likely lead to changes in the top ranks of cross-country skiing, for example, if Bolshunov returns in good form. Overall, I have the impression that Trump will want Russia to return under it`s flag for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It will be a major propaganda success for him if a stop fight will happens. Perhaps Trump is hoping for a Nobel Peace Prize in the future.

Edited September 2, 2025 by copravolley

[avlar 492]

6 hours ago, copravolley said:

It depends on whether a stop the fight in teory, like the one in Donbas from 2015 to 2022 is considered the stop of the war, stop the fight, or what?(the peace terms were violated back then, too). In the case of Russia, they are no longer a major force in biathlon. Their return could more likely lead to changes in the top ranks of cross-country skiing, for example, if Bolshunov returns in good form. Overall, I have the impression that Trump will want Russia to return under it`s flag for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It will be a major propaganda success for him if a stop fight will happens. Perhaps Trump is hoping for a Nobel Peace Prize in the future.

In biathlon russians have even more troubles due to the case of Bessberg. According to the recent news he was foubnd guilty by the court. So their influence on the IBU is really at the lowest point now.

I suppose Bolshunow will not be back to the Olympics in 2026 (like Sadulaev, Uguev, major judokas in Paris - 2024).

Talking about the end of the war - is rather a theoretical assumption for us. No evidence of that so far.

I have read a sad joke on this: "Donald Trump said that if Russia does not end the war in Ukraine by the end of summer, then... autumn will begin."
He is predicatble and unpredictable at the same time. 
 

[Kerkun 71]

Did everyone else miss this part?

Quote

The IBU Event & Competition rules do not provide a rule for neutral athlete participation.

 

[Grassmarket 4,156]

Crime update

 

French biathlon world champion Julia Simon faces a court date over allegations she stole credit cards belonging to her team-mate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and another member of the French national team staff.

 

The 28-year-old is due to appear before the criminal court in Albertville on October 24, the French newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré reported on Wednesday. Simon faces charges of theft and fraud.

 

French biathlete faces court over alleged use of team credit cards