BJOERNDALEN Ole Einar

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen made his World Cup debut just a few months before the founding of the IBU on July 3, 1993. Björndalen’s 28th place in the 20 km individual only hinted at the 19-year-old’s potential on the road to biathlon legend status. At the same time, the boundless potential of the IBU and biathlon was equally a pie-in-the-sky dream. Over the past 30 years, both Björndalen and the sport reached heights very few imagined in 1993.

The Beijing Olympic Winter Games marks biathlon’s 17th appearance in the winter quadrennial and as the saying goes, “we’ve come a long way, baby!” When biathlon made its debut at the 1960 Squaw Valley OWG, it was simply a one and done: men’s 20 km individual, three medals and it was over. This year at the Beijing OWG, 33 medals in five men’s and five women’s competitions plus the mixed relay will be awarded over ten competition days.