Biathlon: Norway releases the groups for its 2025/2026 national team
At midday on Thursday, the Norwegian Biathlon Association unveiled the composition of its various training groups for the 2025/2026 season. Following the retirement of the Boe brothers, the big question was who would take their places.
Vebjoern Soerum and Martin Uldal won the vote and will spend the summer preparing for the Olympic season as part of the elite national team alongside Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Sturla Holm Lægreid, Endre Stroemsheim and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen.
A disappointment last winter, he has kept his ticket under Siegfried Mazet and Egil Kristiansen. “We have a very strong national elite team on the men’s side, where all the runners have performed at a very high level. It’s a good combination of young athletes and more experienced biathletes,” says Per Arne Botnan, Norway’s biathlon boss. We wanted Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen with us because of his experience and his potential, which we know is high.
These choices mean that Isak Frey, who impressed last winter in the IBU Cup, will not be taking his place in the most prestigious training group. He will, however, be the bridgehead of the recruitment team (national B team) with Sivert Guttorm Bakken, Sivert Gerhardsen, Johan-Olav Botn, Mats Oeverby and Martin Nevland in his wake.
Karoline Knotten sidelined against her will
Among the women, the big surprise is the absence of Karoline Knotten. “We have different wishes and needs for next season. That’s why we’ve decided that Karoline [Knotten] won’t be in the national team,” reveals Per Arne Botnan.
However, it has been made clear that the Norwegian – who wanted to continue in the elite group, as she told TV2 – will continue to receive monitoring and support from the national team for her health, ammunition, rifle and skis: “We are available to her if she wishes as part of her training plan for next season,” explains coach Sverre Huber Kaas.
Patrick Oberegger and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Maren Kirkeeide, Ragnhild Femsteinevik, Juni Arnekleiv, Ida Lien and Marthe Kraakstad Johansen will be his students.
The twelve-strong U23 squad includes Gro Randby, Sara Tronrud, Siri Skar, Guro Ytterhus, Ragna Fodstad, Julie Kvelvane, Ann Kristin Aaland, Silje Berg-Knutsen, Agathe Brathagen, Guro Femsteinevik, Frida Dokken and Gunn Tvinnereim.
Several biathletes have declined a place in the squad : Karoline Erdal, Bjoerg Eide and Marit Oeygard. A few days ago, Emilie Kalkenberg revealed that she had decided to train outside the national team, hence her absence from the squad.
Norway’s squad for the 2025/2026 season
Elite national team
Men
- Sturla Holm Lægreid (Bærums Skiklub) 🇳🇴
- Johannes Dale-Skjevdal (Fet SK) 🇳🇴
- Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen (Geilo IL) 🇳🇴
- Endre Stroemsheim (Bærums Skiklub) 🇳🇴
- Vebjoern Soerum (Søndre Ål sportsklubb) 🇳🇴
- Martin Uldal (Birkenes IL) 🇳🇴
Ladies
- Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold (Fossum IF) 🇳🇴
- Ragnhild Femsteinevik (Hålandsdal IL) 🇳🇴
- Juni Arnekleiv (Dombås IL) 🇳🇴
- Ida Lien (Simostranda IL) 🇳🇴
- Maren Kirkeeide (Markane IL) 🇳🇴
- Marthe Kraakstad Johansen (Bossmo & Ytteren IL) 🇳🇴
Men’s national recruitment team
- Isak Frey (Bærums Skiklub) 🇳🇴
- Johan-Olav Botn (Stårheim IL) 🇳🇴
- Sivert Guttorm Bakken (Vingrom IL) 🇳🇴
- Sivert Gerhardsen (Tromsø Skiskytterlag) 🇳🇴
- Mats Oeverby (Lier IL) 🇳🇴
- Martin Nevland (Figgjo IL) 🇳🇴
Men’s U23 national team
- Haavard Tosterud (Østre Toten Skilag) 🇳🇴
- Andreas Præsterud (Simostranda IL) 🇳🇴
- Tov Roeysland (Tinn Skiskytterlag) 🇳🇴
- Leo Skjellaug Gundersen (Geilo IL) 🇳🇴
- Oliver Alm (Østre Toten Skilag) 🇳🇴
- Andreas Haug (Bø Skiskytterlag) 🇳🇴
National recruitment team and women’s U23
- Gro Randby (Ivrig IL) 🇳🇴
- Sara Tronrud (Nordre Land IL) 🇳🇴
- Siri Skar (Try IL) 🇳🇴
- Guro Ytterhus (Rennebu IL) 🇳🇴
- Ragna Fodstad (Østre Toten Skilag) 🇳🇴
- Julie Kvelvane (Voss SSL) 🇳🇴
- Ann Kristin Aaland (Hardbagg IL) 🇳🇴
- Silje Berg-Knutsen (Fet SK) 🇳🇴
- Agathe Brathagen (Ivrig IL) 🇳🇴
- Guro Femsteinevik (Hålandsdal IL) 🇳🇴
- Frida Dokken (Svene IL) 🇳🇴
- Gunn Tvinnereim (Hardbagg IL) 🇳🇴
