From a 21-year-old debutant in Oberhof in 2006 to a four-time Olympic contender twenty years later, Anastasia Kuzmina’s career spans three decades, 30 World Cup podiums, a complete set of World Championship medals, and Olympic hardware from every Games she has raced – three gold and three silver medals. This season, her best finish so far is 19th place, yet Kuzmina herself reminds us that the Olympics have their own rules – and that sometimes, it’s the unexpected names that surprise everyone.

Biathlonworld: How are you feeling as the Olympics draw near?

Anastasia Kuzmina: We’re already in the final phase of the season, which is all about testing our form and making sure everything is on track. Right now I feel a bit tired, but at the same time there’s a lot of excitement and a clear shift toward peaking for the most important part of the season.

BW: What motivates you the most right now – the joy of racing, the chance to compete at another Olympic Games, or the people and team around you?

AK: It’s really a mix of emotions, and it’s hard to single out just one main source of motivation. There’s a sense that something almost unreal lies ahead – returning after a long break, regaining my skiing form, and preparing for my fourth Olympic Games under the Slovak flag. It’s a huge honour and something I truly value.

At the same time, the Olympics themselves are a unique challenge. They often show that even a perfectly prepared athlete doesn’t always succeed, while someone less expected can surprise everyone.

BW: In our last interview, you talked about your comeback after roughly four and a half years away from top-level biathlon. How would you describe the return process today?

AK: It was a long, demanding journey. During my time away, the sport had advanced dramatically – young athletes were incredibly well-prepared, and even my former competitors had reached levels I hadn’t expected.

There were suddenly very fast shooters and a fierce presence on the course, sometimes comparable to the intensity of men’s biathlon. It became clear that success required hard, systematic work.

Over the past three years, I focused on refining every detail, building new habits, and rediscovering myself in a completely new way. The hardest part was staying motivated and not giving up when things didn’t go as planned.

BW: How would you assess your current form compared to the peak of your career?

AK: It’s hard to make a direct comparison. Skis and waxing techniques have changed, and it honestly took me about a year to get used to the new equipment and how it feels under my feet.

My technique and body parameters have also changed, along with some physiological adjustments. Recovery takes longer, but muscle memory still works. The main challenge was actually not overdoing it in training, because I still remembered how I used to train.

When I pushed too hard, I needed longer recovery periods, and some planned sessions couldn’t be completed, and finding the right balance has been a real challenge.

BW: How do you look back on the World Cup season so far, and what are your goals and expectations as you head into the Olympic Games?

AK: So far, the World Cup season has brought some big disappointments, especially on the shooting range, even though we’ve put in a huge amount of work. My main goal was to show that I’m different – that I can shoot cleanly and don’t have to take extra penalty loops.

Before the Olympic season, I completely changed my rifle, which felt like learning to shoot all over again. I’m lucky to have a very patient shooting coach, my former teammate Martin Otčenáš, for whom I have enormous respect. With my shooting now technically solid, the biggest challenge is trusting my muscle memory and staying relaxed during races.

This is a key focus for me leading into the Olympics. My form is improving steadily, but in biathlon, shooting is crucial. The main goal is to balance skiing and shooting performance at the right moment. Medals are hard to dream about because the competition is so tough, but my task is to master both elements together.

BW: Looking back at your previous Olympic Games, which moment remains the most precious for you?

AK: Probably the individual race in Pyeongchang. I won a silver medal there, but I’ve never really enjoyed individual races – they’re long, with four shooting stages, and demand intense concentration.

But in that race, everything came together. It felt perfect – I felt like I was flying on the skis, everything clicked, and I truly believed in myself. It reminds me that the moments we fear most can become the most rewarding.

BW: What advice would you give to younger athletes preparing for their first Olympic Games?

AK: When I think back to my first Olympics in Vancouver, I focused on really experiencing it. In elite sport, especially in biathlon, the idea of “enjoying it” doesn’t come up often, because every performance is hard work.

But I mean enjoying it in the sense of savoring the racing itself, the atmosphere, and sometimes letting a bit of fate play its part. Often, results come when you least expect them. My advice to young athletes would be to enjoy the Olympics – and if they’re well prepared, the results will follow.

BW: What brings you the greatest joy outside of biathlon and racing?

AK: It’s the feeling of being part of a big family that means so much to me and where I’ve belonged for many years.

Photos: Manzoni & Deubert / IBU