The BMW IBU World Championships Lenzerheide 2025 started with a Mixed Relay. Selina Gasparin reflects on the race, a missed chance for Switzerland, her joy of seeing the World Championships in Switzerland, and the Niklas Hartweg family's vital role in the development of biathlon. She also explains why Lou Jeanmonnot and Johannes Thingnes Boe look the strongest and might continue to do so as the World Championships continue with the Sprints.

The BMW IBU World Championships Lenzerheide 2025 started with a Mixed Relay full of surprises. France dominated, showing their incredible strength, while Norway and Sweden struggled, leaving space for smaller nations to fight for a medal. Czechia with a silver medal - what a fantastic surprise!For the Swiss team, there was extra pressure racing at home. Expectations were high, and performing in front of home fans always adds another layer of nerves. Sixth place is a respectable finish, but with a bit of luck, it could have been a historic moment - a home medal was within reach.

All in all, it was not an easy day for the athletes. The tracks were soft and wet, making skiing extremely demanding. With two long uphills before the shooting range, arriving composed and focused for the shots was a real challenge. On top of that, the waxers had a tough job—getting the skis right in these conditions was tricky, and those who found the perfect setup had a big advantage.

It’s incredible to see the World Championships in Lenzerheide, here in Switzerland. When I won my Olympic silver medal in Sochi 2014, it was a turning point—biathlon truly arrived in Switzerland. Since then, the sport has grown, and a huge part of that success is thanks to Michael and Carola Hartweg. Their dedication to infrastructure development and their financial support through the foundation has helped Swiss biathlon take massive steps forward.

Now, we have a new generation of athletes ready to fight for medals. Our biggest hopes are in the relays, and I believe that Niklas Hartweg and Amy Baserga have the mentality to handle the pressure. We will hopefully have another shot at a medal soon!

After a super strong January, Lou Jeanmonnot is clearly in amazing shape, and this Lenzerheide snow and track suit her perfectly. She is the top favourite for the Sprint on Friday, and overall, the French women’s team is the strongest. The big question is how the Swedish and Norwegian women will respond—they had a difficult start today, but I expect a strong comeback. As for Franziska Preuss, she likes being in Lenzerheide—she trained here in June, and you can tell she feels comfortable and confident. She is in great form and great spirits, so I fully expect medals to come her way.

When it comes to the men’s competition - and if we can take any takeaways from the Mixed Relay - Johannes Thingnes Boe and Martin Ponsiluoma are clearly the fastest on the tracks. For Ponsiluoma, he just needs to hit more targets. His speed is there, and if he cleans up his shooting, he’ll be a major threat.

After announcing his retirement in Ruhpolding, Johannes made an interesting decision—he left Lavazze early to spend time at home, believing that being with his family would give him the extra energy he needs. Looking at him today, it seems to have worked—he looks strong and focused, and he will be very hard to beat.

People ask me, which discipline would I choose If I had the chance to compete again - I’d always pick the relays! There’s something special about racing as a team, sharing the responsibility and celebrating together makes it the most rewarding event.

The World Championships have only just begun, and after today’s surprises, I’m sure we’re in for more excitement in the days ahead!