In the 2024/25 season, 22-year-old Ukrainian Vitalii Mandzyn started in 21 out of 25 individual World Cup races. In his very first solo competition, he caught attention by finishing fourth and later took his first WC podium as part of the men’s relay team. He finished the season 31st in the Total Score, having missed the final pursuit in Holmenkollen due to illness, which cost him a place in the top 30. This year he has his sights set even higher.

Biathlonworld (BW): Last season was your first full year on the World Cup circuit, with you starting in almost every race. What turned out to be the toughest part – the physical demands or the mental side?

Vitalii Mandzyn (VM): The hardest part was probably realising that I really can compete at the level of the best. The season was packed with new experiences, and many things happened for the very first time. And it wasn’t only about the races themselves, but also about handling everything mentally. Qualifying for a mass start, being at the flower ceremony, and everything at the very first WC - all of that came earlier than I was ready for.

BW: When you realised you could compete at this level, did it feel overwhelming? How did you handle that “new reality”?

VM: That was the hardest part, to accept that the result wasn’t a coincidence. When you finish fourth in your very first individual race, the thought in your head is: “Is this really happening to me?” The real challenge was to believe it was the outcome of all my work, not just luck. Over time, I understood that appetite comes with the process: you want more, and you want it to be better. I’ve learned to approach it with a clear head, and I see that this season was a huge step forward for me.

BW: You seem to be a very disciplined and ambitious person. Where does that drive and desire to be first come from?

VM: It’s hard to say exactly. Probably since childhood, I’ve always wanted to do things well, even in the smallest details. Over time, through coaches, training camps, and different situations, that mindset only grew stronger. Even back in school, teachers told my mom that others “followed me.” I didn’t realise it then, but later I understood that in any group, I wanted to be the best. That drive never went away; it just moved to another level. And I also enjoy tough challenges; they make me stronger. I believe biathlon demands ambition. If you look at the very best, each of them has a big goal, and I do too.

BW: But there must be moments when nothing goes your way and things just don’t work out. What helps you get through them?

VM: I had such a period back in my junior years, though it didn’t last long. But there was another very tough moment last season. After a strong start in Kontiolahti, we came to Hochfilzen and suddenly nothing worked. The contrast in results really hit me, and the relay, where I ended up with two penalty loops, was the most painful. It was hard to understand why what had worked a week earlier suddenly failed, and that was a point when it was extremely difficult to pull myself together.

I’m someone who always wants to be better, and when it doesn’t work out, it hurts a lot. In those moments, my parents help the most; they always support me and accept me as I am, and I’m endlessly grateful for that. I’m also thankful to God for what I have; faith supports me in both good and difficult times. And in Hochfilzen, the encouragement from fans gave me additional strength; their words helped me see it as just one tough episode in a long story.

BW: So, a bad team result is harder to take than a setback in an individual race?

VM: Absolutely. In a relay, the responsibility is greater because you’re racing not just for yourself. Failures there hurt twice as much. For example, in Oberhof, individually everything went well, I shot clean, but in the relay, I ended up with a penalty loop again. Eventually, I realised it was all about psychology. The hardest part was accepting that things are actually simpler than they seem: just do what you’ve done a hundred times in training, and the result will follow. Only from mid-season it started working out, but I’m sure that experience will help me going forward.

BW: And how do you recover after moments like that?

VM: I like to go out for a walk in the evenings, talk with my parents, my sister, or friends. Sometimes I just need to be alone, reflect once more, and let it go. The key is not to beat yourself up too much and to keep moving forward. I don’t think any champion has gone through their career without tough moments. You can’t stop, you have to keep trying, again and again. Sometimes a hundred times, sometimes a thousand. Maybe it still won’t work. But the moment you stop trying, everything loses its meaning. That’s what I believe.

BW: But not everyone succeeds, even if they train just as hard and keep trying. Why is that?

VM: It’s a difficult question. Not all of us will be like Johannes Boe, and that’s a fact. But everyone wants it. Even the athlete who finishes 100th also starts the race dreaming of being first. The difference lies in inner motivation, in how much you’re ready to keep moving forward. I don’t have the exact answer. I just know what I want, and I keep going toward it. And I’m sure for me this is only the beginning.

BW: Success in sport always comes at a price. What is it for you?

VM: You give up a lot: freedom, personal time, moments with family. Life is scheduled year-round: camps, travel, races. Sometimes a week at home already feels like a holiday. But biathlon also gives back: it lets you grow, build a name, and open new opportunities. Still, all of this only works if you can find balance. Without switching off, there’s only burnout. For me, that means time with my family, even a few days at home during the season. That home atmosphere is my real source of energy and restores me better than anything else.

BW: Looking back at your first full World Cup season now, what advice would you give yourself a year ago?

VM: Always keep trying and never stop. Trust yourself and what you do. Have faith in better things and stay optimistic.

BW: And to your future self?

VM: Probably the same. My mindset is more or less formed now, and this advice will stay relevant for a long time, maybe even until the end of my career. I’m curious to see what comes next. But if I had the chance to look into the future, I wouldn’t do it. It’s more interesting to walk your own path, with all its ups and downs, and know that it’s truly yours.

Photo: IBU Photopool