Over the past two years, Jakob Kulbin has fought his way from the IBU Junior Cup to the Winter Olympics. His World Cup debut in 2024 was followed by a medal at the IBU Junior World Championships in Otepaa, in his home country. He is now a member of the Estonian World Cup team, was the first biathlete from his country to wear a leader bib and competed in the Winter Olympics. How does he look back on his journey and what are his next goals?

"If I've learned anything over the past two years, it's that I need to focus on myself. It makes no difference whether I'm competing in the Junior Cup or the Winter Olympics. Good results only come when I do what I can," says Jakob Kulbin, looking back on the past few years. The 20-year-old has had an incredible journey over the past two seasons.

From the IBU Junior Cup to the Winter Olympics

In the 2023/2024 season, Kulbin competed in the IBU Junior Cup, made his World Cup debut in January and won the silver medal in the mass start 60 at the Junior World Championships in his hometown of Otepaa. He achieved his best World Cup result in December 2025, finishing 12th in the individual event in Oestersund. This success put him at the top of the U23 rankings, making him the first biathlete from Estonia to wear the leader's bib in the World Cup. He enjoys the atmosphere in the top biathlon league. "I like it when the spectators cheer you on along the course. I don't mind all the fuss surrounding the World Cup. I still manage to focus on the shooting range. I don't mind the interviews with the media either," explains the 20-year-old. A particularly large number of journalists approached him after the relay race in Ruhpolding. Together with Rene Zahkna, Kristo Siimer and Mark-Markos Kehva, he finished in 5th place – a historic result that Kulbin was able to secure as the final runner.

Olympic expectations were not fulfilled

"My main goal for this season was to compete in the Winter Olympics in Antholz. I realised that this was possible back in November when I qualified for the World Cup team. The results in the first trimester proved me right." However, Kulbin was unable to maintain his good form throughout the season. "I'm not satisfied with my results at the Olympic Games, especially in the prone shooting, where I wasn't able to perform well. So, the Winter Olympics were rather disappointing for me, also because there was no Olympic atmosphere. It felt like a World Cup, only with more security checks and long traffic jams, which made it all very exhausting."

World Championship 2027 already in sight

Things went much better for him at the IBU Junior World Championships in Arber. With two medals, silver in the mass start 60 and bronze in the individual, it was the most successful championship of his career to date. Not only do the good results speak for themselves, Kulbin also feels much more comfortable on the track and at the shooting range than in previous months. With these successes behind him, he is now heading to the World Cup in Otepaa. "I'm really looking forward to coming home after many months on the road. I want to show what I can do there and just enjoy the races." And he has already had a little taste of the World Championship, which will take place in his living room in 2027. That is the next goal Jakob Kulbin is working towards.

Photo: IBU I Deubert, Osula