Blossoming steadily and then all at once, Campbell Wright turned the biathlon world upside-down by winning the Sprint-Pursuit silver in Lenzerheide. As an athlete who grew up in New Zealand, he cherishes the social aspect of biathlon as much as its competitive edge. And he will take a big win over a consistent season on any given day. For now, at least.

You made a major breakthrough with double silver, and Lenzerheide went through. What went through your mind as you secured your first-ever world championship medal?

I honestly didn't think much about it during the race. I was solely focused on reaching the finish line. It wasn't until afterward that I realised I had accomplished it. After the race, I felt overwhelmed with joy and happiness.

Which silver felt more special?

They both felt pretty sweet in their way because I count them more or less as one medal. Because when you start the Sprint and finish second, it really helps you get second again in the Pursuit.

And how did you approach each race differently, knowing that you told us not to expect to repeat the sprint success in the pursuit?

I approached the races the exact same way, to be honest, not expecting much and trying to do what I could do. And I did that in both, which was great.

You have a relaxed yet fearless racing style. How do you stay so composed on the biggest stage?

I wouldn't say I'm like super composed. To be 100% honest with you, I get very excited and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

Does this life approach come from being born in New Zealand?

New Zealand undoubtedly has a different sports culture than Europe. I remember even when I was young, I came to races in Europe thinking everyone was very serious. The emphasis on the fun side of sports in New Zealand is evident, as there are many community races and events. Attending a race is often seen as a social activity rather than a competitive one.

How did growing up in New Zealand influence your path in a sport traditionally dominated by Europe?

Growing up in New Zealand gave me the mindset of a perpetual underdog, which is great. I see a lot of the Germans in Norwegians and Swedish really struggle with the pressure in the media and the expectations and all of that, but I do not feel this way at all. Lucky me.

Your team includes former US athletes and experts from South Tyrol, Italy. How has this diverse coaching team helped you grow?

Honestly, I don't think many people in America know a whole bunch about biathlon. Same in New Zealand. So I think if you actually want a good coach, you kind of need a European, which is for sure. There are people in America who can do a great job, but the number is few. If that makes sense. So it's great to have the European expertise on the team.

With your rapid rise, do you now see yourself as the main contender for the U23 title?

I would say that before this World Championships, I was possibly the main contender, alongside Vitali Mandzyn from Ukraine. We both had outstanding seasons. He finished fourth in the first World Cup, which made me quite nervous, honestly. Unfortunately, no World Cup points are awarded at the World Championships, and I’m not too worried about the Total Score in the upcoming years. To be honest, I prefer to focus on having a few strong races rather than just being consistently good all year. While consistency is important, I don’t really care about my overall ranking; I just want to capitalise on this breakthrough I’ve had.

What's the next big milestone you're aiming for in your career?

I don't really aim for anything other than being better than I was yesterday. So, no real goals for me. I am trying to be better by doing what I'm doing. I'm enjoying it.