Biathlon: Fredrik Muelbacher’s feat
At the age of 26, Austrian biathlete Fredrik Muehlbacher had never before shone at the highest international level. With just five World Cup starts to his name, all of which came last month in Kontiolahti (Finland), Hochfilzen (Austria) and Le Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie), he had only managed a top 10 finish in the IBU Cup.
On Wednesday afternoon, wearing number 67, he pulled off a remarkable feat in the individual event at the European Championships in Martell-Val Martello (Italy). With a time of 19/20, he won the silver medal 31 sec 7 behind Norway’s Isak Frey (18/20).
If he had done 20/20, he would have won the title.
“I already felt very comfortable in Martell last year [where he finished eleventh in the sprint and pursuit, editor’s note], so the course suits me and I came here with a very good feeling,” he explained in a statement from Ski Austria.
For him, it was his composure on the mats that made the difference. “I decided to stay cool before each shot and that apparently worked really well, he says. In the last round, I just tried to cross the finish line as quickly as possible and, now, winning this silver medal obviously gives me great pleasure.”
It should be noted that, at 20/20, had it not been for this error on the last stand, Fredrik Muehlbacher would have become European champion.
- The full programme for the Martell-Val Martello European Championships, the sixth leg of the 2024/2025 IBU Cup
- IBU Cup: the French selection for the European Championships at Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: the Italian selection for the European Championships at Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: thirteen Austrians at the European Championships in Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: Germany with a strong showing at the European Championships in Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: the impressive Norwegian squad for the European Championships at Martell-Val Martello
- Martell-Val Martello: Germany’s Johanna Puff individual European champion, Amandine Mengin fourth
- Martell-Val Martello: Isak Frey takes the individual continental title, Oscar Lombardot best Frenchman
