Milano Cortina 2026 - Team USA - Biathlon

[clemsonbeav 704]

Team USA 2026

 

Men - 4 athletes - Sean Doherty (4th Olympics), Maxime Germain, Paul Schommer (2nd Olympics), Campbell Wright (2nd Olympics, 1st for USA)

 

Women - 4 athletes - Lucinda Anderson, Margie Freed, Deedra Irwin (2nd Olympics), Joanne Reid (3rd Olympics)

 

History

 

This is the lone sport in the Winter Olympics that we have never medaled in.  Deedra Irwin placed 7th in an event in 2022, so assuming she's on the team this year, hopefully she can move up a few more slots to medal.  Additionally, Campbell Wright, who changed his nationality to USA from NZL, earned 2 silver medals in the 2025 WCH, so hopefully that medal streak will continue in Milan (presuming he's on the team).

Edited January 12 by clemsonbeav

[clemsonbeav 704]

Though the whole team hasn't been announced, Campbell Wright is all but certain to be on the team, due to his medals at the WCH.

 

From NBC Olympics: 

 

Events where Wright could take the podium:

• Men’s 10km sprint on Feb. 13 (Day 7). Wright placed second in this event at the 2025 World Championships.
• Men’s 12.5km pursuit on Feb. 15 (Day 9). Wright finished second in this event at the 2025 World Championships.
• Men’s 15km mass start Feb. 20 (Day 14). Wright finished fourth in this event at the 2025 World Championships.

Edited September 28, 2025 by clemsonbeav

[clemsonbeav 704]

Updated Post 1 with roster.  Looking forward to seeing our team in action.  We haven't medaled at any WC this year, but we're doing decently.

[Quaker2001 339]

20 minutes ago, clemsonbeav said:

Updated Post 1 with roster.  Looking forward to seeing our team in action.  We haven't medaled at any WC this year, but we're doing decently.

His best finish so far this season was a 6th in the pursuit at Ostersund.  He was actually the fastest skier that day and the only one in the field who shot a perfect 20 for 20.  So yes, definitely excited to see what he can do in Antholz!

[clemsonbeav 704]

Just watched a documentary on Peacock that recently came out about the Biathlon team...give it a watch if you want to learn more about Biathlon and/or our team!    It's called Long Shots.

Edited February 4 by clemsonbeav

[clemsonbeav 704]

Well, the mixed relay wasn't to be...liked how Germain was skiing.  Seems like Wright's shooting is erratic.  (But hey, props to all of them for being able to hit any of the targets after skiing like that...)

[clemsonbeav 704]

Had Deedra shot cleanly, she would've been in silver!

[clemsonbeav 704]

Campbell in 12th after the Sprint...only missed one...in pretty good standing for Pursuit...c'mon our Resident Kiwi!

 

(Looking at his splits, he lost a TON of time at the end...ran out of gas...had the potential to be up a few more places.)

Edited February 13 by clemsonbeav

[clemsonbeav 704]

Top 10 finish for Campbell Wright today...no medal, but something to be proud of!

[Triplecast 215]

4 hours ago, clemsonbeav said:

Top 10 finish for Campbell Wright today...no medal, but something to be proud of!

As I explained to my wife earlier, biathlon is the only Winter Olympic sport where the US has never won a medal. (We’ll see about ski mountaineering at the end of the Games.)

 

When we still had the Olympic Channel, they televised World Cup biathlon frequently between 2018-2022.  Chad Salmela did all of the analysis with several play-by-play men.  Many of the names in the sport during that time are still competing today.  I was especially happy for Vittozzi today.

 

I became a real fan of biathlon during that time, and now you can’t even get it on Peacock.  Also, the regular exposure the sport got at that time might have helped grow its popularity rather than seeing it once every 4 years.