Rising Norwegian Martin Uldal star made a huge impression in his first almost-full World Cup season, setting a standing shooting speed record, winning the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Sprint and at season’s end being voted Newcomer of the Year.

That was quite a season for an athlete who spent the two previous seasons on the IBU Cup circuit after his brief World Cup debut at Oslo in 2022. After all of the accolades and finishing 11th in the World Cup Total Score, Uldal now trains with the Norwegian A team, the stepping stone to regular World Cup starts and if all goes as he hopes, maybe a trip to Antholz next February.

Hochfilzen: 12.9 seconds

Uldal opened last season in the IBU Cup where his Geilo Sprint/Pursuit double earned a promotion to start in Hochfilzen. “I went to Hochfilzen, to do my best and most likely go back to the IBU Cup, thinking 7th in the Sprint and 5th in the Pursuit might not be enough to stay.” Of course, everything changed in the Pursuit. “On the last shooting in the Pursuit, I was thinking, ‘I am probably going home after this.’ So, I wanted to go home with a bang. It went really well (12.9 seconds despite a last shot miss) …That really inspired me.”

Third Career Sprint Start and…Victory

The World Cup rookie remained inspired and stayed on as part of the Norwegian World Cup squad after Hochfilzen. The next week in Annecy Le Grand Bornand he won his first-ever World Cup sprint, in just his third race, matching teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid’s mark. “I really did not think I would be able to win. I thought I could definitely grab a podium. The race did not feel that strong; my ski time was better in Hochfilzen so I had to perform at least that well. I saw Johannes (Thingnes Boe) and (Sebastian) Samuelsson were right behind after the standing shooting. I thought they would catch me for sure and maybe third place would be available. I was shocked to win! But I was also shocked when I won twice in Geilo, and in Hochfilzen; things were just on a roll…I always have big goals. I thought I could win a World Cup race, and I did it!”

Fast Standing Shooting with "Natural Technique"

The fast standing shooting in Hochfilzen was no coincidence. Uldal remained flawless in 12.5 seconds during the Single Mixed Relay in Pokljuka. But it's not just talent. "I practice a lot. But my technique somehow came naturally. My brother saw it, and when I noticed it too, I thought, this is how it's done. It's fun to do something differently and better."

Despite his speed at the shooting range, Uldal is still far from matching Sturla Holm Lægreid's 93% hit rate from last winter. The 24-year-old recently spent a few days in France for personal training with his coach, Siegfried Mazet. "He wants to make me a better shooter. I need to learn patience and hit the targets. Once the basics are right, I can do what I want (and beat the 12-second mark!)."

"I Want to Go to the Olympics"

Despite, or perhaps because of, his successes and talent, Uldal wants to achieve even more. "I want to go to the Olympics. If I want to have a long, spectacular career, I need to make it to these Olympic Games. I feel the pressure, even though it's still early. I'm young, and failure is not the end. But I really want it. The next chance won't come for another four years, and by then people will expect me to be successful. But for this time, I need to be ready."

Total Score winner Laegreid thinks Uldal could be among those chasing him next season; that made Uldal smile. “I have to be confident and agree as well. I really want to chase him. I think in one more year, I really want to be able to push him in the Total Score. It would be really fun to be one of the best!”

Photos: IBU/Chrisitan Manzoni, Jerry Kokesh