The IBU communications team gets to experience biathlon from the front row seat every season. This year was no different, and we wanted to check what the most memorable moments were. Is one of these also your favourite moment from the season 2024-2025?

Franziska's big win

After a decade of incredible setbacks and missteps, like falling down the stairs in Annecy Le Grand-Bornand while in top form, the stars aligned for the talented and hard-working Preuss. Her dramatic journey, including the last few hundred meters of the Mass Start in Oslo, reminded me of Goran Ivanišević winning the 2001 Wimbledon as a wild card on People’s Monday—the first and only time that the men’s final was played at the beginning of the third week due to countless rain delays during the fortnight.

Jaka Lucu, Publications manager

Johannes' emotional announcement

For me it was Johannes Thingnes Boe's retirement press conference in Ruhpolding as he is making a conscious choice for his family. He said a sentence like "in twenty years when my kids move out, I don't want to regret that I wasn't there and favoured to do biathlon for one more year". Probably only few people understood the decision, when he is so good in what he is doing and the Olympics and safe medals are around the corner. And surely he is in a luxury position to do this when he has won and earned enough. But I think the decision put some spotlight on what it means for families of athletes, coaches, team members and officials to work in winter sport and that there is a toll any family pays away from the limelight and great hours and joy.

Christian Winkler, Communications director

Jakov Fak's home win

Seeing Jakov Fak win the Pokljuka 15 km Short Individual in his home stadium was beyond amazing. After two flower ceremonies in Antholz and before two more at the IBU WCH Sprint and Pursuit, he talked about how the girls now see him. They said: ‘Daddy you are really doing good.’ I see how they reacted to that. I have been able to go with them on skis this winter and they really love it, always asking when can we go? Seeing me do good motivates them to do sports. We go together as a family like last Saturday when we spent the day skiing at Planica. They enjoyed it; I was a happy and proud father."

This was only his second ever win in Pokljuka. Very few athletes can boast a home stadium victory in their career; the opportunities are very limited. To persevere through all of the injuries and illnesses and win at age 37 with the home crowd pressure is the mark of a true champion.

Jerry Kokesh, IBU Website content creator

Ukrainian moment to remember

Some moments in sport stay with you, not only because of great results, but because of the story and effort behind them. The Ukrainian men's relay team finishing third in Nové Město was one of those moments. It wasn't just about the race or even the long-awaited podium. It was about four athletes who keep going, keep pushing forward, and keep doing their best, even when things aren't easy. And through that, they managed to bring something special, a moment of pure joy and pride for many who had been waiting to feel that again.

It showed how sport, even in a small moment, can give something simple but so important and meaningful. That day, it wasn't only about performance. It was about what it gave to the people watching. And that's what made it memorable.

Mariya Osolodkina, World Cup Media Manager

The career first solo podium

The first weekend of competitions in Kontiolahti set of a season to remember for Suvi Minkkinen and the Finnish biathlon fans. I remember her starting quite early in the competition and keeping a good pace on tracks. After the second shooting she was going clean and when she crossed the finish line I said to her: "the flower ceremony is so close now". I think neither of us believed that it could be a podium but when she secured the third place to whole stadium and the Finnish team started to celebrate. It was really a moment to remember for me seeing a Finn back on the top.

Jenni Ahonen, IBU Content creator

An emotional podium for the young French

Anaelle Bondoux won the silver medal in the mass start 60 at the Junior World Championships in Oestersund. That may not sound like much at first glance, but competing at the World Championships was a win for her. She was in good shape in autumn, but then got injured and had to return to the Junior Cup in December after two stops in the IBU Cup. She was able to win races there, but the next shock came in February: she injured her hand in training, had to have an operation and still managed to qualify for the JWC in March. She completed the entire preparation for the World Championships ‘one-armed’, as she was not yet able to put as much strain on her hand during cross-country skiing. After her medal at the World Championships, she lay crying in the finish area. She was so overwhelmed that she was able to fight her way back within a short time.

Lisa Gerth, IBU Junior Cup media manager

Ella's silver joy

My top moment of the season was Ella's silver medal in Lenzerheide. Not only because it was her first ever medal at World Championships, but above all because there is so much more behind this medal. Ella's story in biathlon is not one that goes completely straight forward. Instead, it proves that fighting for your dreams and believing in them and yourself is always worth it, even if everything sometimes goes against you. And fighting through when giving up would be much easier is what makes a true champion in my opinion. That's why Ella's tears of happiness at the finish line and the joy of the whole team for her are my favorite memories of the season.

Laura Fritzenwenger, Junior Digital content creator

Tommaso Giacomel's victory in Ruhpolding Mass Start

With Lisa Vittozzi sidelined and Dorothea Wierer battling illness, the Italian team had a rocky and below-expectations start to the winter. Tommaso Giacomel struggled a lot too, unable to piece together the performances he was working so hard for. After a tough weekend in Oberhof, he looked crushed, not only by his own results, but, as he told me, because he felt the entire team deserved so much more after all the effort they’d been putting in. From those tears of disappointment in Oberhof, Tommy found the strength to turn it all around. Just a week later, he claimed his first-ever World Cup victory and he did it in style, outshooting and outskiing none other than Sturla Holm Laegreid and Johannes Thingnes Boe. A fun little extra? Just days before, we had dropped by the Italian team for a lighthearted pasta tutorial, joking with Tommaso about what he’d get for dinner if he finally took a win. We’re pretty sure chef Arturo served him a well-earned carbonara that night.

Giulio Gasparin, IBU Content creator

Baiba's heartwarming victory

My favorite memory of the season is Baiba Bendika’s victory in the pursuit at the Open European Championships in Martell, followed by her heartwarming celebration at the finish line with her little son, Emils. A beautiful moment that shows our sport is not only about results, but also about emotion, family, and human connection.

Katerina Outla, IBU Content creator

Photos: IBU Photopool