Estere Volfa is the surprise of the World Cup season, she won the overall standing in the IBU Junior Cup, competed at the Winter Olympics in Antholz and is fast becoming one of her country’s best-known biathletes. Why is biathlon a family affair for her, and how does she cope with her success?

After the season ended, Estere Volfa needed to take a few days off for herself. To unwind, to gather her thoughts, and to reflect on and process the successes of the past few months. She took a break from biathlon by going on a cycling holiday along the French Mediterranean coast, spending time with her friends, and focusing on her business administration studies.

“This season has been more successful than I ever imagined. I’ve achieved all my goals and even exceeded them,” says the 21-year-old. She wanted to finish in the top 30 in the World Cup. She achieved this as early as the first individual race of the season, finishing 28th in the individual at Oestersund. At the Winter Olympics in Antholz, the young Latvian went even further, finishing 16th in the sprint and 11th in the pursuit. In Otepaa, she even secured her first top 10 finish with ninth place in the sprint. Yet at the time, she was still competing in the IBU Junior Cup.

Dominated home races with flying colors

In January 2026, the IBU Junior Cup took place in Madona, and Estere Volfa, as the local favourite, was determined to be there. “I’m so young that I still have plenty of World Cup races ahead of me, but it was my final season in the junior ranks. So, I wanted to compete in my home races.” She was cheered on by many local fans who were keen to see the young biathlon talent in action. However, the pressure she felt from the spectators and the media did not hold her back; instead, it helped her to focus. After finishing second in the first sprint, she won the second sprint and crossed the finish line first in the mass start 60, this time carrying the Latvian flag. Waiting for her at the finish line was her mother, Ieva Cederštrēma-Volfa, who plays a special role in her daughter’s sporting career.

Biathlon as a family business

Ieva Cederštrēma-Volfa was herself a successful biathlete and an Olympian. She has passed on her passion for sport to her daughter and has supported her every step of the way. “We have a ritual where I call my mum before and after every race. I’m very grateful that I can always count on her support,” says Volfa. She also has a close relationship with Elza Bleidele. The two have known each other since childhood, embarked on their professional sporting careers together and continue this path side by side. “I’d describe our relationship as being like that of an old married couple. We know each other well, support one another and always spend a lot of time together. Without Elza, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Whenever I was too lazy to go to training, she motivated me. I hope her hard work in biathlon pays off soon.”

For Estere Volfa, winning the overall standing in the IBU Junior Cup, competing in World Cup, taking part in the Winter Olympics and securing three medals at the 2026 IBU Junior World Championships on the Arber (gold in sprint and mixed relay, silver in mass start 60) has already paid off handsomely. She prefers not to speak openly about her goals for the future. “I think if I say it out loud, it won’t happen. I prefer to write it down, because journaling really helps me stay on track and keep getting better.”

Photos: IBU I Deubert