Duo Horn and Hettich-Waltz clinch the singles championship title

The 2025 Biathlon summer championships, a cherished tradition in the sport's calendar, took place at the Hohenzollern Ski Stadium on the Great Arber. The event saw thrilling performances and unexpected twists, with Philipp Horn and Janina Hettich-Walz emerging as the victors.

In the men's individual event over 15 kilometers, Horn defended his title from last year despite a challenging start. Just moments after the race began, Horn slipped on a slippery road due to heavy rain. However, he quickly regained his composure and set off on his pursuit. Horn's strong running performance earned him a penalty lap instead of the usual 45-second penalty, a testament to his determination and skill.

Meanwhile, Lucas Fratzscher from WSV Oberhof finished second with four misses, while Justus Strelow from SG Stahl Schmiedeberg claimed third place with two misses. The women's individual event over 12.5 kilometers saw a dominating performance from Janina Hettich-Walz. She shot only one miss and finished 26.8 seconds ahead of Franziska Preuß, who had one miss as well.

Vanessa Voigt from Thuringia showed impressive accuracy, hitting all 20 targets, but lost valuable time on the track.

The first day of the sprint races is scheduled for Saturday at 11:00 and 14:00. The medals for the pursuit will be awarded on Sunday at 11:00 and 13:30.

It's worth noting that the winner of the Biathlon World Cup for the 2025/26 season is yet to be determined. The latest detailed information refers to the 2024/25 season, where Sturla Holm Laegreid was the overall World Cup winner.

In a heartwarming story, Janina Hettich-Walz celebrated a strong comeback after her baby break. Her victory adds another chapter to her successful career in biathlon.

The World Cup season is set to begin on November 29 in Östersund. The Olympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from February 6 to 22, 2026.

These championships marked an exciting start to the biathlon season, with the athletes showcasing their skill, resilience, and sportsmanship. The biathlon community eagerly awaits the next events in the calendar.