The US team is the surprise of the winter so far. At the World Championships in Nove Mesto they were better than they had been for a long time. Particularly Campbell Wright stands out – and that’s not just because of his ideas on the trail.
The roles in the men’s relay competition are actually clearly divided: Norway wins, the other top nations such as Germany, Sweden and France have to be content with the places behind them. The spectators are likely to be even more impressed at this year’s event World Cup Ruhpolding rubbed their eyes when suddenly the US relay team with Campbell Wright was at the forefront and prepared to turn the biathlon world upside down.
Of course only for a short moment, because in the end the Americans ended up in tenth place. For Wright, it was still a decisive experience, as he tells the sports show. “These are the moments you dream about and why you do all this. I could hardly sleep the night after the race”said Wright. No wonder, it was only his third relay race ever. “In the previous one I was lapped and in Östersund I was so bad that this season doesn’t even count”he says, embarrassed.
Changing the USA is an emotional decision
The fact that Wright only has so few relay races under his belt is due to his rather unusual background in the sport. The 21-year-old was born in New Zealand, learned to ski on the snowier South Island and, until last year, competed as a lone skier. It wasn’t until the current season that he changed his nationality when he joined the US team. A decision that was difficult for him. “Knowing that I won’t be representing my home country anymore was very emotional. But I don’t regret it, I’m still a Kiwi.”said Wright.
Ultimately the advantages outweighed the advantages. Better structures and greater financial support convinced Wright, whose parents come from the USA. He has been training with the US team since 2022, otherwise he and his coach were alone in the World Cup. “I don’t think I could have continued like that. If I want to play the sport until I’m 30, then I need more security and support. I don’t want to be one of those prodigies who did well in the juniors and then disappeared. That’s why I had to I want to change something”explains the biathlete.
Finally like a real biathlete
It is now his third season in the World Cup. In the beginning people mostly knew him as the guy from New Zealand. But that may have changed a little with the greatest success of his young career, because Wright won gold in the sprint at the Junior World Championships last year – which, of course, no compatriot had achieved before him. As an athlete from a small nation, you automatically assume the role of the underdog, said Wright, who actually wanted to study dentistry. But that also has advantages because he doesn’t feel any pressure to perform.
Not even after moving to the USA. On the contrary: people are still surprised when his name appears higher up in the results lists. Just like at the World Cup Nove Mestowhere Wright’s worst finish was 20th. “There I felt like a real biathlete and not like the New Zealander who only made it to the finish line in 60th place. So not just like an extra, but really competitive.” Wright recently celebrated the best World Cup placement of his career when he finished eighth in the individual in Oslo.
Campbell Wright runs consistently in the top 20.
Upswing noticeable throughout the US team
Wright stands out with his top 20 placements, but his teammates also achieved solid results. This was allowed Deedra Irwin Not only was she happy about her best World Cup placement to date as eleventh in the pursuit, but together with Wright she also came seventh in the Single Mixed Relay – better than ever before at a World Cup. Only the men’s relay team did better, achieving a historic fifth place. You can feel an upswing in the US biathlon team. Not only in the World Cup, but also from the second-tier IBU Cup, young athletes are constantly coming up.
That wasn’t always the case, because biathlon isn’t exactly considered a traditional sport in the USA either. The local association also noticed this in 2022 and pushed forward some changes. As a result, the men’s and women’s teams were combined under one head coach, Armin Auchentaller. There is also now an eight-year plan that will end in 2030 with winning Olympic medals.
Success through better talent screening
This should be achieved primarily through better talent identification at younger ages. “In recent years, especially among women, most athletes have only started playing sports at the age of 24 or 25 or after college.”, explains US head coach Auchentaller to the sports show. Thanks to the new development program, they are now able to support younger biathletes. “It’s still a long, hard road, but our team is motivated and enjoys biathlon. Above all, they want to be successful. And that’s the right recipe.”
Like at the World Cup relay, when Wright was on his lap with the biathlon superstar Johannes Thingnes Bö had to record. At the beginning of his World Cup career he viewed this with awe. “When you take part in the World Cup for the first time, it’s not about performance. You just take it all in because it’s so great. But then you compete against Johannes Thingnes Bö and you just think: Damn, this is a real one Person?!”says Wright, laughing. “The stars become much more human the more time you spend with them.” Because at some point you’ll be part of it – even as a biathlete from New Zealand.