U.S. Biathlon Names Youth and Junior Teams for 2026 International Competition

Courtesy of the U.S. Biathlon

TYLER, Texas (TXAN 24) — U.S. Biathlon has announced its youth and junior international teams following the recent Youth & Junior Nationals and International Team Trials held at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, New York. The event brought together 81 of the nation’s top young biathletes competing for national titles and spots on international rosters.

The selected athletes will represent the United States at three major events during the 2025–26 season: the Junior IBU Cup, the Junior Open European Championships, and the Youth and Junior World Championships.

Competition begins January 14–17, 2026, when 10 junior athletes travel to Madona, Latvia, for Junior IBU Cup 3. The team will then head to Imatra, Finland, to compete in the Junior Open European Championships from January 21–25.

Later in the season, 16 athletes will compete at the 2026 Youth and Junior World Championships in Arber, Germany, scheduled for February 28 through March 8. The event will feature eight days of racing and conclude the international youth and junior calendar.

Athletes selected come from across the United States and abroad, representing clubs in Alaska, Minnesota, Vermont, Colorado, Massachusetts, Utah, and Washington, among others.

Coaching leadership for the season includes Brian Halligan, Tim Burke, and a multi-coach staff supporting athlete development through U.S. Biathlon’s Women’s Coaching Initiative.

U.S. Biathlon is the national governing body for the sport, recognized by both the International Biathlon Union and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.