Biathlon: quotas validated for Les Bleus
During the 2024/2025 season, as well as the race for globes and other world medals, there was another major issue in the background: the hunt for quotas for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina.
It is in fact this winter’s Nations Cup which, according to the Olympic qualification system, serves as the basis for determining the quotas. The principle is simple: the top twenty countries get four.
Except that there are some subtleties, since the countries in the top 3 have a total of six places (two substitutes) available for the Games to be held in February 2026 in Antholz (Italy), while those ranked 4 to 10 have five (one substitute). So finishing in the top 3 in this season’s Nations Cup was decisive.
By winning this hierarchy, the two French teams have risen to the challenge with flying colours, and a total of six men’s and women’s biathletes will be eligible for selection next January for the Olympic showpiece.
On the women’s side, Sweden and Germany are in the same situation as Norway and Sweden on the men’s side. This means that there will only be five Norwegians and one German at the 2026 Olympic Games.
Key dates for qualification for Milan/Cortina 2026
- 25 November 2024: start of the qualification period – 2024/2025 season
- 1 April 2025: the IBU will inform the NOCs in writing of the qualification places allocated to them via the 2024/2025 World Cup Nations Cup.
- 29 November 2025: start of the qualification period – 2025/2026 season
- 19 January 2026: the IBU will inform the NOCs in writing of the qualification places allocated to them via the IBU qualification points list.
- 21 January 2026: confirmation from the NOCs to the IBU of the use of the qualification places allocated to them
- 22 January 2026: reallocation by the IBU of all unused places
- 26 January 2026: Deadline for entries by sport for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
The full document explaining the qualification system
- The mixed relay to start, the individuals before the sprint/pursuit, the mass start to finish: the programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
- Top 3 nations cup target for France: the hunt for Olympic quotas for Milan/Cortina 2026, the other key issue of the 2024/2025 season
