Integrated into the Olympic program since 2014, the mixed biathlon relay kept its promises this Sunday in Anterselva. The big nations lived up to their reputation, as evidenced by... the podium France-Italy-GermanyThe younger girls were also able to distinguish themselves. Ukraine took eighth place and Poland in ninth place, ahead of better-ranked nations like the Czech Republic or Switzerland. Latvia, ninth before the final shot, also finished in a respectable twelfth place. This format had already allowed nations like Slovakia (4th in 2014), Belarus (5th in 2018), Ukraine (6th in 2014) or Finland (6th in 2018) to play at the front.
« We love the mixed relay. It allows the small federations that may not have four top-level athletesbut who have two men and two women of a good level, with a chance of reaching the podium" explains Max Cobb, Secretary General of the IBU"We are very pleased to open the Olympic Games with the mixed relay, a very easy-to-understand competition, which offers more nations the opportunity to finish in the top 10That's perfect for starting out. "The French team, gold in 2018 and silver in 2022, will not say otherwise!"
