Biathlon World Championships
The first Biathlon World Championships (BWCH) was held in 1958, with individual and team contests for men. The number of events has grown significantly over the years. Beginning in 1984, women biathletes had their own World Championships, and finally, from 1989, both genders have been participating in joint Biathlon World Championships. In 1978 the development was enhanced by the change from the large army rifle calibre to a small bore rifle, while the range to the target was reduced from 150 to 50 meters.[1]
| Biathlon World Championships | |
|---|---|
| Status | active |
| Genre | sporting event |
| Date(s) | February–March |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | various |
| Inaugurated | 1958 |
| Organised by | IBU |
Venues
The Biathlon World Championships of the season takes place during February or March. Some years it has been necessary to schedule parts of the Championships at other than the main venue because of weather and/or snow conditions. Full, joint Biathlon World Championships have never been held in Olympic Winter Games seasons. Biathlon World Championships in non-IOC events, however, have been held in Olympic seasons. In 2005, the then new event of Mixed Relay (two legs done by women, two legs by men) was arranged separately from the ordinary Championships.
Arranged Championships:
- 1958
- 1959
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1965
- 1966
- 1967
- 1969
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- 1970
- 1971
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
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- 1993
- 1994
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- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2019
- 2020
Upcoming:
- 2021
- 2023
Men
Bold numbers in brackets denotes record number of victories in corresponding disciplines.
Individual (20 km)
This event was first held in 1958.
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Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 10 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
| 2 | | 8 | 8 | 10 | 26 |
| 3 | | 6 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
| 4 | | 6 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 5 | | 5 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| 6 | | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 7 | | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 |  | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 10 | | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 12 | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 13 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 15 |  | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 16 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 18 | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 19 |  | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (21 nations) | 47 | 47 | 47 | 141 | |
Sprint (10 km)
This event was first held in 1974.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 10 | 10 | 8 | 28 |
| 2 | | 7 | 4 | 4 | 15 |
| 3 | | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| 6 | | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| 7 | | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| 8 | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 11 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 13 | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 15 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (17 nations) | 36 | 36 | 36 | 108 | |
Pursuit (12.5 km)
This event was first held in 1997.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 5 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| 2 | | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 3 | | 5 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 4 | | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (7 nations) | 19 | 19 | 19 | 57 | |
Mass start (15 km)
This event was first held in 1999.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 7 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
| 2 | | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 3 | | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 8 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals (9 nations) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 | |
Relay (4 × 7.5 km)
This event was first held unofficially in 1965. It was a success, and replaced the team competition as an official event in 1966.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 9 | 13 | 6 | 28 |
| 2 | | 9 | 5 | 3 | 17 |
| 3 | | 6 | 3 | 8 | 17 |
| 4 | | 6 | 3 | 4 | 13 |
| 5 | | 5 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| 6 | | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| 7 | | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 10 | | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 13 | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 14 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (15 nations) | 41 | 41 | 41 | 123 | |
Team (time)
This event was held from 1958 to 1965. The times of the top 3 athletes from each country in the 20 km individual were added together (in 1958 the top 4).
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (5 nations) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | |
Team
This event, a patrol race, was held from 1989 to 1998. 1989–93: 20 km. 1994–98: 10 km.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 7 |  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 | | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 13 |  | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (14 nations) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | |
Women
Bold numbers in brackets denotes record number of victories in corresponding disciplines.
Individual (15 km)
This event was first held in 1984. Through 1988 the distance was 10 km.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 5 | 6 | 5 | 16 |
| 2 | | 5 | 5 | 2 | 12 |
| 3 | | 5 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
| 9 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 |  | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 15 | | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 16 | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals (16 nations) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 87 | |
Sprint (7.5 km)
This event was first held in 1984. Through 1988 the distance was 5 km.
.svg.png){kind=small}
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 8 | 5 | 4 | 17 |
| 2 | | 8 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| 3 | | 3 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| 4 | | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 7 | | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 12 | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 13 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 17 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (17 nations) | 29 | 29 | 30 | 88 | |
Pursuit (10 km)
This event was first held in 1997.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| 2 | | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 8 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| 10 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 13 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (13 nations) | 20 | 18 | 19 | 57 | |
Mass start (12.5 km)
This event was first held in 1999.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | | 4 | 5 | 2 | 11 |
| 3 | | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| 7 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 9 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (12 nations) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 | |
Relay (4 × 6 km)
This event was first held in 1984. Through 1988, the event was 3 × 5 km. 1989–91: 3 × 7.5 km. 1993–2001: 4 × 7.5 km. In 2003, the leg distance was set to 6 km.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 10 | 5 | 4 | 19 |
| 2 | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | | 5 | 6 | 5 | 16 |
| 4 | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 5 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | | 0 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 7 | | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 8 | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 13 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (14 nations) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 87 | |
Team
This event, a patrol race, was held from 1989 to 1998. 1989–93: 15 km. 1994–98: 7.5 km.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 6 | | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 10 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (13 nations) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | |
Mixed
Bold numbers in brackets denotes record number of victories in corresponding disciplines.
Mixed Relay (4 × 6 km)
This event was first held in 2005, at the Biathlon World Cup finals in Khanty-Mansiysk. In 2005 the women biathletes did the first two legs, and the men did the following two, while in 2006 the sequence was woman–man–woman–man. At the Biathlon World Championships 2007 in Antholz, the sequence was women–women–man–man. The ski legs of 6 km each (in 2007–19 men ski legs: 7.5 km). From 2007 only one team per nation is allowed to compete.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 2 | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 3 | | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Totals (9 nations) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 42 | |
Single Mixed Relay (1 × 6 km + 1 × 7.5 km)
This event was first held in 2019.
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 4 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (5 nations) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
Total medals by country
Updated after the 2020 Championships.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 77 | 69 | 62 | 208 |
| 2 | | 63 | 50 | 36 | 149 |
| 3 | | 44 | 29 | 21 | 94 |
| 4 | | 35 | 35 | 36 | 106 |
| 5 | | 28 | 41 | 28 | 97 |
| 6 | | 19 | 12 | 10 | 41 |
| 7 | | 13 | 12 | 23 | 48 |
| 8 | | 10 | 10 | 16 | 36 |
| 9 | | 10 | 8 | 13 | 31 |
| 10 | | 7 | 10 | 21 | 38 |
| 11 | | 6 | 9 | 13 | 28 |
| 12 | | 5 | 6 | 9 | 20 |
| 13 | | 2 | 5 | 11 | 18 |
| 14 | | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| 15 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 16 | | 1 | 6 | 7 | 14 |
| 17 | | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 18 | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 20 | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 22 | | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 26 | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (27 nations) | 328 | 326 | 328 | 982 | |
Multiple medalists
Boldface denotes active biathletes and highest medal count among all biathletes (including these who not included in these tables) per type.
Men
All events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | | 1997 | 2017 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 45 |
| 2 | Martin Fourcade | | 2011 | 2020 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 28 |
| 3 | Emil Hegle Svendsen | | 2007 | 2016 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| 4 | Frank Luck | | 1989 | 2004 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 5 | Alexander Tikhonov | | 1967 | 1979 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 17 |
| 6 | Johannes Thingnes Bø | | 2015 | 2020 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 20 |
| 7 | Tarjei Bø | | 2011 | 2020 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 20 |
| 8 | Ricco Groß | | 1991 | 2007 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 20 |
| 9 | Frank Ullrich | | 1977 | 1983 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 14 |
| 10 | Raphaël Poirée | | 1998 | 2007 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 18 |
Individual events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | | 1997 | 2017 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 26 |
| 2 | Martin Fourcade | | 2011 | 2020 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 18 |
| 3 | Raphaël Poirée | | 1998 | 2007 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 4 | Emil Hegle Svendsen | | 2008 | 2016 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 5 | Frank Ullrich | | 1978 | 1983 | 5 | 3 | – | 8 |
| 6 | Alexander Tikhonov | | 1969 | 1979 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 7 | Johannes Thingnes Bø | | 2015 | 2020 | 4 | 6 | – | 10 |
| 8 | Ricco Groß | | 1995 | 2005 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 9 | Mark Kirchner | | 1990 | 1993 | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| 10 | Eirik Kvalfoss | | 1982 | 1991 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
Women
All events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magdalena Neuner | | 2007 | 2012 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
| 2 | Elena Golovina | | 1985 | 1991 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | Petra Behle (Schaaf) | | 1988 | 1997 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| 4 | Marte Olsbu Røiseland | | 2016 | 2020 | 9 | – | 3 | 12 |
| 5 | Uschi Disl | | 1991 | 2005 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 19 |
| 6 | Andrea Henkel | | 2000 | 2013 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 16 |
| 7 | Tora Berger | | 2006 | 2013 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 18 |
| 8 | Liv Grete Skjelbreid (Poirée) | | 1997 | 2004 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 9 | Laura Dahlmeier | | 2015 | 2019 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| 10 | Svetlana Petcherskaia (Davidova) | .svg.png){kind=small} | 1989 | 1992 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
Individual events
| Rank | Biathlete | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magdalena Neuner | | 2007 | 2012 | 6 | 2 | – | 8 |
| 2 | Magdalena Forsberg (Wallin) | | 1996 | 2001 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | Liv Grete Skjelbreid (Poirée) | | 2000 | 2004 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | Olena Zubrilova | | 1997 | 2005 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Laura Dahlmeier | | 2015 | 2019 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| 6 | Tora Berger | | 2008 | 2013 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 7 | Marie Dorin Habert | | 2015 | 2016 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | Andrea Henkel | | 2005 | 2013 | 4 | 1 | – | 5 |
| 9 | Petra Schaaf | | 1988 | 1993 | 4 | – | 1 | 5 |
| 10 | Dorothea Wierer | | 2016 | 2020 | 3 | 2 | – | 5 |
See also
References
- "Biathlon: a sport on the cutting edge". International Olympic Committee. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
External links
