End of the 2023-2024 biathlon season: medal for Moldova and strengthening the national team

With the last round of the IBU World Cup in Canada, the 2023-2024 biathlon season came to an end. Overall, the Republic of Moldova maintained its positions in the final ranking: the men improved their position by 1 point, ranking 21st (in the 2022-2023 season, they were in 22nd position), the women moved to 23rd place, which also guarantees their quota for the next season.

„Of course, our star players Alina Stremous, Pavel Magazeev and Maxim Macarov could have strengthened their own positions and the team's position in the final ranking. Unfortunately, the athletes were ill both before and during the World Championship, which affected our positions a bit. Nevertheless, the team still managed to finish the season quite safely - this year, Moldova has the silver medalist Alina Stremous at the European Championships. For the country, this is a victory, so, the 2023-2024 biathlon season was still a successful one!", concluded Dmitrii Torner, President of the Biathlon Federation of the Republic of Moldova.

Recall that on January 24, 2024, at the European Biathlon Championships in Osrblie

(Slovakia), our biathlete Alina Stremous won the silver medal in the individual 15 km race. Thus, Alina repeated her success from 2022, at the European Championships in Germany, where she also won silver in the individual race and gold in the 10 km pursuit race.

Among the achievements of the 2023-2024 season can be mentioned the successful completion of the qualification selection and the performance of Moldovan juniors at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon (South Korea). This year, for the first time, the largest team in the history of Moldovan biathlon was present at the Olympic Games - our country was represented by five young athletes.

For the next season 2024-2025, the Moldovan national team aims to improve its positions and to be included in the overall TOP-20 ranking. This will enable the participation of the team composed of 4 men and 4 women in the relay at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Another novelty is that our young athletes Victor Șendrea, Iulian Luchin - disciples of Nadejda Bria - will participate in the national team. "Next season we will see them at the IBU Cup. This will allow us to "rejuvenate" our national team and ensure the continuity of generations in Moldovan biathlon", said Dmitrii Torner, President of the Federation.

In the next season 2024-2025, the Moldovan national team intends to participate in all competitions - the IBU World Championships, the European Championships and all stages of the IBU Cup. To this end, the Federation will renew the equipment and improve the technical equipment.

From April, athletes will train according to individual programs with personal coaches. The first training camps will take place at the beginning of July in Pokljuka (Slovenia) and the Federation is also planning to renew the coaching staff.

In preparation for the 2024-2025 season, the athletes will also participate in regional and international summer biathlon competitions.