Sport Week: Ones to watch for Para Biathlon

Controlling your breathing after skiing for kilometres in sub-zero temperatures, in order to hit a tiny, distant target…Para Biathlon is one of the most physically demanding of all the winter sports.

Check out some of the athletes with the ability to go the distance at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.

Benjamin Daviet (FRA)

Since missing out on a biathlon medal at Sochi 2014, France’s Benjamin Daviet has not missed a beat at major competitions.

Over the last three World Championships he has stepped onto the podium eight times, including four top spots. At the 2019 Worlds he swept the board to leave with a trio of titles.

At PyeongChang 2018 he put the ghosts of Sochi to rest, winning gold in the sprint and middle distance.

Clara Klug (GER)

Clara Klug and guide Martin Hartl do not have the average guide-athlete relationship.

During the summer months, Hartl is Klug’s coach. Then during the winter he transforms into her guide, attending all major competitions with the 27-year-old.

The formula clearly works as Klug is a triple world champion in the women’s vision impaired events. 

At Beijing 2022, Klug will be hoping to improve on her bronze medals from the middle and long distance from the last Winter Paralympics in 2018.

Kendall Gretsch (USA)

Kendall Gretsch credentials as one of her country’s top Paralympians – across the summer and winter Games – can be in no doubt.

At PyeongChang 2018, Gretsch became the first female from the USA to win a biathlon title, in the sprint. She followed that up with a world title in the long distance in 2019.

Then in 2021, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Gretsch crossed the finish line to take gold in the triathlon. Less than eight months later, the sit-skier is planning a successful switch back to the snow for Beijing 2022.

Liudmyla Liashenko (UKR)

The Ukrainian has been one of the top names in Para Nordic Skiing for some years now.

Most recently, Liashenko secured one gold, one silver and one bronze in biathlon at the Lillehammer 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships.

The 28-year-old has high hopes ahead of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, where she aims to improve her performance from PyeongChang 2018. Back then, Liashenko took two biathlon bronze and one gold and one bronze in cross-country skiing.

Ekaterina Rumyantseva (RPC)

Inspired by the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics in her home country, Ekaterina Rumyantseva took up biathlon and cross-country skiing in the same year.

A whirlwind 12 months that followed saw her make her World Championships debut. Rumyantseva won bronze in cross-country but finished outside of the medals in biathlon.

Fast forward to PyeongChang 2018 and the standing skier had really found her groove. Two golds came in the sprint and middle distance as well as silver in the long.