IBU Academy Education Manager appointed

The IBU is pleased to announce that Dr Gerold Sattlecker has been appointed to the newly-created position of IBU Academy Education Manager from 1 August 2021.

Dr Sattlecker will help to oversee the running of the IBU Academy, which was created as part of Target 26 and aims to serve the global biathlon family through education, research and dual-career programmes.

As a lecturer at the University of Salzburg and a former deputy head of an academic course, Dr Sattlecker is intimately familiar with the development, planning and evaluation of educational strategies. He has been closely involved in biathlon since 1996 having competed as an athlete at Junior World Championships level, and subsequently having served as a biathlon researcher focused on shooting specificity, a shooting consultant for many National Federation Teams, and most recently as an IBU Academy Expert group member. He also brings a strong background in sports science which will allow him to contribute to the IBU’s projects in the future and he currently serves as an Economic Director of Sports Centre Salzburg-Rif.

The new IBU Education Manager will report to Dagmara Gerasimuk, the IBU’s Development Director, who said:

“Delivering educational activities for our National Federations means we need to have the best people in our team. Gerold will add his significant experience and use his network of international experts, lecturers and sports scientists to create an environment for the IBU Academy and other development projects.”

Gerold Sattlecker added:

“I am honoured to have been appointed IBU Academy Education Manager. As a member of the IBU Academy Expert Group I have been closely involved in the development of the strategy of the IBU Academy. I will draw from all my knowledge and experience within biathlon and education to ensure that we are fulling our mission of serving all global biathlon members.”

As referenced, the three focus areas of the IBU Academy are:

• Education: Implement educational programs provided by international experts that join theory and practice, encourage creativity and scholarship, and foster a lifelong desire to learn. Actively serve the global biathlon family at different professional levels from grassroots to high-performance.

• Research: Develop ideas and projects to innovate biathlon-specific issues, stimulate the development of biathlon, and benefit the global biathlon family.

• Dual-career: Develop the possibility for talented, professional and elite athletes to build an education or job path simultaneously with a sports career and develop leaders who will serve all biathlon sectors in the future.