As soon as the long biathlon winter is over, the view of the coming season is already going to the Northern Europeans. The Finns already announced the squad with which one wants to attack in the Olympic season.
The Finnish Biathlon Association decides over half a year before the first World Cup race of the 2025/26 season. Ten biathletes chose the Northern Europeans in their A-selection, which wants to score points in the first division.
The new team consists of four women and six men. Erik Torneus-Kulstad continues to act as head coach, Aku Moilanen assists. Torneus-Kulstad joined the association in May 2022, previously he was active in Norway and China.
The women’s contingent is led by Suvi Minkkinen, which took seventh place in the overall World Cupranking with a remarkable 694 points. Hopes are also on Venla Lehtonen (42nd place). The 30-year-old had already had to end her season early due to health problems in mid-March.
Sonja Leinamo (61st) and Inkan hemäläinen (76th) complete the quartet, with which the Finns want to start their season preparation.
Focus on the Olympics: Finland relies on height training
For men, the focus in the coming year is again on Tero Seppälä, who was the best place of last season as the 27th. His highlight: At the mass of the World Cup in Lenzerheide at the end of February, he had made it to ninth place – it was his best placement throughout the winter.
Otto Invenius (48.), Jaakko Olavi Ranta (67th), Arttu Heikkinen (80.), Olli Hiidsalo (87th) and Jonni Mukkala, who could not collect any World Cup points in 2024/25, complete the contingent.
For Heikki Laitinen (72nd), Jimi Klemettinen (83.) and Tuomas Harjula (84th) there was no space in the Finnish squad for the time being. The association announces who is divided into the other training groups at a later date.
In order to prepare for the Olympic season, the Finns will hold both training camps at home and abroad. The focus is on height training in order to optimally prepare for the conditions in the Olympic biathlon system in Antholz.
With the Norwegians, another biathlon nation has already announced their contingent for the new season.