Biathlon world championship 2009

Legends and Future

Norway was the most successful country and achieved four gold medals, one silver and three bronze. All the gold medals had legs and sights of the miracle named Bjoerndalen. Now, he is 34, and he wants to compete till Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, 2014. He won three individual races, and was only one circuit far from the victory in the fourth


By SONA WEISSOVA
from Bratislava, SLOVAKIA


The 43rd Biathlon World Championship took place in Pyeong Chang, South Korea, from February 14-22, 2009. This was the first time for this type of winter sport to have championship in Asia. Sportsmen have been competing in five disciplines and 11 medal sets were awarded to the best. The world class of biathlon took part in South Korea, all with Norwegian O. E. Bjoerndalen and E. H. Svendsen and German K. Wilhelm and S. Hauswald (her mother became from South Korea). But, not only favorites became the winners, there were some suprising names too. Russians could not avoid doping scandals again.

Relatively high temperatures made troubles to the organizers. They did their best to make good conditions on the track. In the first championship race for 7,5 km, biathletes could not avoid crashes on the melted parts of ground. Not even stars like German biathletes Magdalena Neuner, or Russian Ivan Tcherezov did not manage to finish the last downhill. In the course of championship the weather became better, there was more snowing, but there was still a very bad wind on the shooting area.

Phenomenon from North

Norway was the most successful country and achieved four gold medals, one silver and three bronze. All the gold medals had legs and sights of the miracle named Bjoerndalen. Now, he is 34, and he wants to compete till Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, 2014. He won three individual races, and was only one circuit far from the victory in the fourth. Also he helped a lot in a win of men relay race. He is the most successfull biathletes in the world, and there are some expectations that he will be the most successfull sportsmen in winter sports ever.

The future in young legs

In the first competition, young - 20 years old Czech junior, Veronika Vítková made happy Czech fans. Her best place in this year's championship was the fifth place in the individual race for 15 km. In the other races, she was twice 10th and once 18th. One unconventional country when talking on biathlon - Croatia, represented Jakov Fak with bronze medal in individual race for 20 km. The most unexpected success reached young Austrian Dominik Landertinger. At the end of February, he was 21. He won a beautiful gift for yourself, after winning a race with mass start. In the last circuit he was extremely faster than the fastest man in the world - Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.

There is new chance for Slovakia. But it is in Russia colours

Nice suprise has arrived to Slovakian fans. Anastasia Kuzmina reached fantastic 7th position representing Slovakia. But the biggest suprise Kuzmina made in the last women race in the World championship, she was second! She equals historical success of Martina Halinarova from 1999. Kuzmina was beaten only by Olga Zaitseva. They hugged together in the finish. The greatest achievement for Slovakia was brought by native Russian. She is dressing a Slovak colours only from december 2008. But seeing the Slovakian flag high is a beautiful feeling. Soft shivers. But somewhere in deeper parts of mind, there is a question - was it achievement of Slovakian sportsmen? Slovakian biathlon school? We are step back from other world.

(Published: 10.03.2009.)