Milano Cortina 2026
The world's best biathletes will gather at the legendary Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Südtirol Arena to compete for Olympic glory. Over the course of two weeks, 11 sets of medals will be awarded in both individual and team competitions.
BIATHLON SCHEDULE
Antholz: Where Biathlon Legends Are Made
High in the South Tyrolean Alps, Antholz has long been a cradle of biathlon. Home to the Südtirol Arena Alto Adige, it has hosted World Cups annually since 1991 and six World Championships, earning a reputation as one of the sport's most iconic venues. Nestled among the Dolomites, the stadium combines cutting-edge facilities with breathtaking alpine scenery, drawing up to 23,000 fans during major events. Athletes like Lukas Hofer and Dorothea Wierer have grown up on these trails, while the arena honours pioneers like Paul Zingerle.
OLYMPIC BIATHLON QUALIFICATION
A total of 210 quota places are available for biathlon at the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026, divided equally between 105 men and 105 women. The qualification is determined based on two qualification methods as follows.
2024/25 WORLD CUP NATIONS CUP STANDINGS
A total of 186 places have already been allocated to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) through the 2024/25 World Cup Nations Cup standings. This ranking reflects team performance across the season:
- Ranking 1–3: Six quotas per gender.
- Ranking 4–10: Five quotas per gender.
- Ranking 11–20: Four quotas per gender
This system ensures that the strongest nations can field full teams while keeping space open for a wide range of countries.
IBU QUALIFYING POINTS LIST
The remaining 24 quotas will be awarded on the basis of the IBU qualifying points list, published after the World Cup stop in Ruhpolding on 18 January 2026.
These final places are reserved for athletes from NOCs that are not already qualified via the Nations Cup. Each NOC can secure up to two quotas per gender through this path, offering smaller delegations a chance to join the Olympic start line.
On target for glory: Biathletes to watch
Here are some of the top biathletes expected to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, showcasing their talent and dedication.
GER
A stalwart of German biathlon, Franziska Preuss reached the pinnacle of her career in 2024/25 by winning the overall World Cup after a season-long duel with Lou Jeanmonnot. She also secured the Sprint and Mass Start globes, adding to a career tally of five victories and 27 podiums on the World Cup circuit, underlining her consistency and resilience despite frequent injuries. A three-time Olympian, her top achievement came at Beijing 2022 with bronze in the women's relay.
NOR
A late bloomer by biathlon standards, the Norwegian burst onto the World Cup scene in the final stage of 2019/20, winning four gold medals at the World Championships in Pokljuka the following year. At the Beijing 2022 Olympics, he captured gold in the men's relay, marking his debut Games with the ultimate team success. In 2024/25, he crowned his rise by winning his first overall World Cup title. With icy focus on the range and ever-improving ski speed, Laegreid has become one of the most complete athletes in the sport.
FRA
Emerging as one of France's brightest talents, Lou Jeanmonnot first made her mark in the 2023/24 season with four World Cup victories and eight podium finishes. She built on that momentum in 2024/25, winning eight more races and capping off the season with the Individual and Pursuit discipline globes. Over the last two World Championships, she earned four golds and three bronzes, excelling particularly in team events. Now preparing for her first Olympic Games, Jeanmonnot is a rising star ready to make an immediate impact.
FRA
Still only 24, the French biathlete is already making waves on the international stage. In March 2024, Perrot delivered a breakthrough by winning his first World Cup race. Less than a year later at the 2025 World Championships in Lenzerheide, he captured his first individual world title, followed by a bronze in the pursuit and two team medals: silver in the men's relay and back-to-back golds in the mixed relay. With grit, precision, and raw speed, the Frenchman has quickly established himself among the very best.
FRA
The 29-year-old French star has long established herself among the world's elite. She claimed the overall World Cup title in 2022/23 and continues to rank among the top competitors, with 11 individual victories and 22 World Cup podium appearances to date. At the Beijing 2022 Olympics, she won silver in the Mixed Relay, adding Olympic glory to her growing collection. Over the last two World Championships, Simon secured eight golds, contributing to a total of 13 World Championship medals throughout her career, highlighting her dominance in both individual and team events.
ITA
One of Italy's brightest young talents, Tommaso Giacomel celebrated his first World Cup victory in January 2025. Later that season, he took silver in the 20 km individual at the World Championships in Lenzerheide, narrowly missing gold by a single shot. At 22, he made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2022. With dynamic skiing and reliability on the range, the Italian has become his country's homegrown star and one to watch at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
An Olympic gold medalist in the 12.5 km mass start at Beijing 2022, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet has consistently ranked among the world's top competitors. The Frenchwomen debuted at the Olympics in Pyeongchang 2018 with a bronze in the women's relay. At the 2024 World Championships in Nové Město, she completed the full medal collection in individual events while adding two team golds in the women's and mixed relays. She followed this up in Lenzerheide 2025 with individual gold and bronze, and a successful defence of her Relay title, underlining her ability to deliver on the biggest stages.
Few biathletes have left as big a mark on the sport as this French star. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he made history with five medals — two golds and a silver in individual events, plus two silvers in team competitions. Earlier, in the 2021–22 World Cup season, he claimed the overall title along with sprint and pursuit discipline globes. With 20 World Championship medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 11 bronze) and a proven record of delivering on the biggest stages, Fillon Maillet remains a cornerstone of the French team.
ITA
The Italian star returns to the World Cup circuit after missing the entire 2024/25 season due to injury. She won the overall World Cup in 2023/24 and brings experience from the last two Olympic Games, including a bronze in the Mixed Relay at PyeongChang 2018. On the World Championship stage, Vittozzi has earned one gold, three silvers, and one bronze in individual events, while contributing to a total of 25 team medals (5 gold, 8 silver, 12 bronze) across World Cups and World Championships. Racing on home snow in Milan-Cortina, she will be one of Italy's key hopes for success.
SWE
Since his Olympic debut, Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson has built a reputation as one of the circuit's most consistent performers. In Pyeongchang 2018, he helped his team to gold in the men's relay and won an individual silver in the pursuit. Four years later in Beijing, he came close to adding another medal with a fourth place in the mixed relay. Across his career, Samuelsson has amassed 18 World Cup podiums, including six victories in the last five seasons. His finest moment came at the 2023 World Championships in Oberhof, where he earned a gold and two bronzes in individual events.
