It almost worked in the last race
German biathlon team ends season without a win for the first time
March 22, 2026 – 5:13 p.mReading time: 1 min.
In the final competition of the season, only seconds are missing from German victory. It would have been the first this winter. A historic low.
For the first time since men and women took part in the World Cup together – i.e. since the 1987/88 season – the German biathlon team completed a season without a win. There were nine podium finishes in 69 races, but not a single triumph.
Philipp Nawrath came closest at the final mass start in Oslo. The 33-year-old cleared all 20 targets – even in the last shooting without any mistakes. On the final lap he kept up with the Norwegian winner Johan-Olav Botn for a long time. Shortly before the finish he lost contact. In the end, 3.7 seconds were missing. Botn also made it through without any mistakes – and had to throw up after crossing the finish line. Overall World Cup winner Eric Perrot from France came third. Justus Strelow was 15th with one error, Philipp Horn was 21st with four errors.
Nawrath’s second place was the German team’s best result this season. He made it onto the podium twice in second place. The remaining seven podium places were third places – including bronze for the mixed relay at the Winter Olympics in Italy. It was the only medal at the season highlight. The German team had never performed so poorly at the Winter Games.
