ÖSV biathlon: Young talents on the rise – coach demands consequences!

ÖSV biathlon: Young talents on the rise – coach demands consequences!

On November 29, 2025, Austrian biathlon will undergo a clear upheaval that brings with it both challenges and great hopes. The current C squad of the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) offers a lot of potential, with talented athletes such as Lukas Haslinger (22), Mathias Prosser (20), Sami Mesotisch (21) and Matti Pinter (18) who embody the future of biathlon.

Coach Wolfgang Sumann has set clear priorities: He calls for material disputes to be resolved and everyone involved to take responsibility. “We have to start with ourselves before we blame others,” says Sumann. In order to perform more successfully at the upcoming Olympic Games, higher demands are placed on each individual.

Challenges and optimism

The focus is particularly on improving performance on the cross-country ski trail. Last year, Austria only achieved 11th place in the nations rankings, which led to only four starting places in the sprint and individual disciplines for the upcoming competitions. Coach Sumann sees the reduction in starting places as an opportunity to promote competition. “That could have a performance-enhancing effect,” he says. Despite the challenging situation, there are hopes for progress towards the home World Cup in 2028.

However, only small progress can be expected in the short term. These are considered necessary in order to remain competitive not only in the national team but also internationally. Great importance is also placed on improving physical training to prepare athletes for the extreme demands of biathlon.

Scientific consideration of biathlon

Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with shooting and demands both endurance and precision from athletes. According to studies, elements such as rifle stability, firing position and heart rate management are critical to success. However, research has shown that research in biathlon is still limited compared to cross-country skiing. Only 79 studies deal with biathlon, in contrast to a large number of publications on cross-country skiing.

Better mental preparation is crucial for performance. Athletes shows that mental skills, including goal-directed training and tension regulation, are important for competition. The self-efficacy theory, which was developed by Albert Bandura in 1977, plays a major role here. Higher self-efficacy is closely related to better performance and the ability to overcome challenges.

The competition process requires a high level of concentration and dealing with pressure. Future research should therefore focus on developing frameworks tailored to the specific needs of biathletes.

Overall, the activities of the ÖSV and scientific research reflect the constant development and the effort to raise the sport of biathlon in Austria to a new level, while at the same time the psychological aspects are brought to the fore in order to continue to make athletes successful.

Laola1 reports that athletes need to be prepared for many challenges. The scientific studies on biathlon and self-efficacy are a valuable tool. Wikipedia notes that understanding biathlon also requires a basic understanding of technical and emotional aspects. For further information on sporting performance in biathlon, the findings from research can be found below PMC of importance.