Norway and Germany win Mixed Relay Gold

The Mixed Relays opened the Youth Junior Biathlon World Championships in Shchuchinsk - windy conditions on Saturday put particular focus on the shooting range in the first competitions, with Norway taking the Youth Mixed Relay ahead of Germany and Ukraine. Later on Saturday, Germany secured Junior Mixed Relay Gold ahead of France and Norway.

Norway's big comeback to Gold

Despite three penalty loops on the first two legs, the Norwegian Quarter of Ragna Fodstadt, Maren Brannare-Gran, Kasper Kalkenberg and Sivert Gerhardsen claimed the first gold medal of the Youth Junior World Championships in the Mixed Relay.

"It was my first international race so I was a bit nervous before the start. We trained here for some days and it was a lot of wind which made me a bit nervous but I think it was a good race for me and the team, so it was very nice to cross the finish line in the first place!" (Sivert Gerhardsen, achoring the team to victory)

Kalkenberg and Gerhardsen managed to avoid the penalty loop on the final two legs and lifted the team from the 5th position at the halfway stage to gold, setting the fastest skiing times on the last two loops.

The German team, finishing in the silver medal position, led by almost a minute after the first two legs but Tim Nechwatal struggled at the range in the third leg, allowing the other teams to catch up, putting Norway, Germany, Ukraine and Italy within 15 seconds of each other.

While Italy's Cesare Lozza hit the penalty loop twice in the final prone shooting, Ukraine's Mykhailo Khmil held on to the bronze medal despite 5 spare rounds.

Germany wins Junior Mixed Relay Gold

Austria, France, Belgium and Germany all arrived at the first exchange simultaneously with less than 3 seconds between the team - with Sweden joining the medal battle after a strong performance by Alva Skold on the second leg.

Germany, Sweden and France looked like certain medalists on the final two legs of the competition until the final standing shooting when Sweden's Anton Ivarsson hit the penalty loop three times, opening the door for Slovenia and Norway.

Hans Koellner held on to his lead ahead of France's Jacques Jefferies to secure gold for the German team - Isak Frey secured bronze for Norway, putting in the fastest skiing time with only two spare rounds to hold off clean-shooting Lovro Planko of Slovenia.

"Now we're World Champion. It was a really really good day. The first two shots (at the final standing) were a little bad but overall it was quite good shooting" (Hans Koellner, Germany)

All competitions are broadcast live on www.eurovisionsports.tv/ibu/ and can be followed on the Official IBU App!

Pictures: IBU/Yevenko

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