Biathlon: Johan-Olav Botn leads the men’s biathlon, Quentin Fillon-Maillet on the podium
On Sunday, the first stage of the 2025/2026 Biathlon World Cup came to an end in Östersund (Sweden). After ten events, including three individual races for each gender, an initial hierarchy is beginning to emerge.
In the men’s race, it was Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn, winner of the individual and sprint races and third in the pursuit, who topped the rankings.
With 245 points, he even has a clear lead over Sebastian Samuelsson (190), Quentin Fillon-Maillet (181), Martin Uldal (180), Sturla Holm Lægreid (142), Tommaso Giacomel (133), Sivert Guttorm Bakken (130), Eric Perrot (115) and Vetle Sjaastad Chridtiansen (110).
Fifteenth-placed Norwegian Isak Frey (63) already has the blue bib of the best U23 on his shoulders. Ukrainian Vitalii Mandzyn (39) and Estonian Jakob Kulbin (29) follow at a respectable distance.
Suvi Minkkinen in yellow ahead of Anna Magnusson and Camille Bened
On the women’s side, it was Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen who topped the rankings. Solid in the sprint/chase combination, she wears the yellow bib with a total of 191 points. Her closest pursuer is Sweden’s Anna Magnusson (174).
Camille Bened (148) then completed the provisional podium ahead of Lisa Theresa Hauser (145), Dorothea Wierer (136), Maren Kirkeeide (120), Océane Michelon (118), Elvira Oeberg (114), Lou Jeanmonnot (110), Lisa Vittozzi (87) and Hanna Oeberg (84).
Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide (120), sixth overall, has the blue bib of best U23 in her possession. In this specific hierarchy, she is (already) far behind Finland’s Inka Hämäläinen (59), Germany’s Julia Tannheimer (58), Sweden’s Sara Andersson (37) and Latvia’s Estere Volfa (31).
In the specialities rankings, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, thanks to his magnificent success in Sweden, is the current holder of the red pursuit bib, as is Lisa Theresa Hauser. In addition, Dorothea Wierer and Johan-Olav Botn lead the individual race, as do the same Norwegian and Suvi Minkkinen in the sprint.
France tops the rankings for mixed events and the women’s relay
In the rankings for mixed events, France, who won this small globe last winter, is already in the lead. With 155 points collected on the first weekend of the Swedish World Cup, they are ahead of Norway (140), Sweden (131) andItaly (105).
In the relays by gender, Les Bleues (90), thanks to their success on the first day of this 2025/2026 season, is first, whileItaly (75) follows. On the men’s side, Norway lead the way with 90 points ahead of France (75).
Les Bleues already ahead at the Nations Cup
Finally, in the Nations Cup, France (1,635) already dominates the women’s ranking ahead of Sweden (1,507),Italy (1,469), Finland (1,333) and Norway (1,323).Germany is only eighth with 1,192 points.
In the men’s category, it was the impressive Norway (1,709) who came out on top, ahead of France (1,559), Sweden (1,507),Germany (1,391) andItaly (1,269).
Biathlon World Cup overall rankings (for the blue bib, see ‘U23’)
Men
SMTSLadies
SWTSBiathlon World Cup sprint overall rankings
Men
SMSPLadies
SWSPBiathlon World Cup pursuit overall rankings
Men
SMPULadies
SWPUBiathlon World Cup individual overall rankings
Men
SMINLadies
SWINBiathlon World Cup relay overall rankings
Men
SMRLLadies
SWRLThe general ranking of the mixed events in the Biathlon World Cup
MXRLBiathlon Nations Cup overall rankings
Men
SMNCLadies
SWNC- The full programme for the Östersund World Cup, the first stage of the 2025/2026 season
- Caroline Colombo: my best memory of… Österusnd
- “When it performs, it creates momentum”: the relays on the opening weekend of the World Cup in Östersund, important events to get the French team on the right track
- Östersund: Jeanne Richard, Océane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot dominate the women’s relay, the first race of the winter season
- “It’s a great team effort”: on their first outing of the winter in Östersund, Les Bleues have already won the World Cup
- Östersund: France’s Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin and Eric Perrot second in the relay won by Norway
- “A good relay in tempo”: behind the Norwegians in the Östersund relay, the French get their winter off to a good start
- “There’s this desire to go for the greatest medal of all”: beaten by Norway in the first relay of the season, Les Bleus have their sights set on Olympic gold
- Östersund: Sweden win the mixed singles relay ahead of Norway, Fabien Claude and Camille Bened third for France
- “It’s important in a career”: Camille Bened takes her first World Cup relay podium finish in the mixed singles relay in Östersund
- “It’s wonderful to see her so happy and fulfilled”: former biathlete Chloé Bened reacts emotionally to her older sister Camille Bened’s first World Cup podium finish.
- Östersund: Emilien Jacquelin, Eric Perrot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot win the mixed relay for France
- Östersund World Cup: Corinne Niogret’s debrief (relays)
- Östersund: Dorothea Wierer triumphs in the individual event ahead of Sonja Leinamo and Camille Bened, who takes her first solo podium finish
- “It’s the fruit of a lot of hard work”: an emotional Camille Bened talks about her third place in the Östersund individual event
- Camille Bened as told by her first coach Martin Bouchet after her podium finish in Östersund: “She was already a great fighter who never gave up”.
- Östersund: Johan-Olav Botn takes his first World Cup win by winning the individual, Eric Perrot best Frenchman
- “I’m in seventh heaven”: Johan-Olav Botn, who was ill at the start of the week, ran the perfect race in Östersund.
- “We’re where we should be”: a tricky first individual race for the French team, far from the podium in Östersund
- Östersund: Océane Michelon third in the sprint, victory for Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen ahead of Anna Magnusson
- Östersund: winner of the sprint, Suvi Minkkinen takes the yellow bib as World Cup leader
- Suvi Minkkinen, winner of her first World Cup victory in the Östersund sprint: “It’s incredible”.
- “It’s a great day for me”: 993 days later, Anna Magnusson is back on a World Cup podium in Östersund.
- The pride of Océane Michelon, scorer of her first World Cup 10/10 to finish on the podium in the Östersund sprint: “I went all the way”.
- Östersund: first podium of the winter for Quentin Fillon-Maillet, third in the sprint dominated by Johan-Olav Botn
- “It’s a podium that means a lot to me”: Quentin Fillon-Maillet talks after his third place in the Östersund sprint
- “He did exactly what needed to be done”: the secrets behind Quentin Fillon-Maillet’s new recumbent shot, third in the Östersund sprint.
- Östersund: Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser wins the pursuit ahead of Suvi Minkkinen, Camille Bened fourth with 20/20
- Östersund: Suvi Minkkinen keeps his yellow number and will wear it at Hochfilzen, Camille Bened third overall
- “I realise that there are no limits”: fourth in the Östersund pursuit, Camille Bened wants more… without getting carried away
- Östersund: Quentin Fillon-Maillet triumphs in the pursuit, Eric Perrot in the flowers
- Östersund: Johan-Olav Botn keeps the yellow bib for Hochfilzen, Quentin Fillon-Maillet comes third and will wear red for the Austrian pursuit
- “I’m already liberated before setting off for Hochfilzen”: the satisfaction of the “old wolf” Quentin Fillon-Maillet after his victorious Östersund chase
