LAEGREID Sturla Holm

Sturla Holm Laegreid’s first full season on the BMW IBU World Cup circuit was one of the most remarkable rookie seasons ever. The seven victories including two individual IBU World Championships titles, World Cup Pursuit and Individual Score Crystal Globes, and second in the World Cup Total Score, while winning the Blue Bib (under 25) title made the likeable Norwegian not just an instant sensation but a legitimate biathlon star.

Laegreid’s rise was remarkable, considering his limited career. He was a promising junior, winning two Silver medals at the 2018 IBU YJWCH before being shut down for a year with mononucleosis. At the same time, he fell off the international radar, so his senior “debut” with a mass start 60 win at the 2020 Martell IBU Cup and an IBU OECH Pursuit Silver medal in 2020 at Minsk were surprises. Those results gave Laegreid a BMW IBU World Cup “cup of coffee” in Nove Mesto and Kontiolahti, where he proceeded to hit 59-of-60 shots. That bolted him to the Norwegian A team.

He stunned the biathlon world, opening the 2020/21 season with a clean-shooting 19-second victory over number one ranked teammate JT Boe and never looked back. Laegreid went from zero to ten career podiums over the season and after the opening week in Kontiolahti, only finished outside the top eight twice. Laegreid’s success can be attributed to several things, including his spectacular 92% shooting, total fearlessness and “having fun all season.” He and Boe battled neck-and neck all season for the World Cup Total Score, with Boe securing the title in the final competition, leaving the rookie Laegreid in second.

Sturla Holm Laegreid lives in Lillehammer, just down the street from teammate Johannes Dale. Laegreid boasts an honest forthright personality, is an avid practitioner of meditation and loves playing guitar.