Johannes Thingnes Boe, with his record-breaking two individual gold medals, Franziska Preuss, claiming her first-ever individual World Championship title, Campbell Wright, securing two unexpected silver medals for the US, and Lenzerheide specialist Justine Braisaz-Bouchet were the standout names after an electrifying first week of the BMW IBU World Championships 2025.

In the days between the end of Trimester 2 and the BMW IBU World Championships Lenzerheide 2025, Johannes Thingnes Boe, again, listened to his intuition, left the Norwegian high-altitude camp in Lavaze, and flew home to spend time with his family. He went on long skiing tours to clear his mind and prepare his body for the final hurrah of his glorious career, starting with Lenzerheide. He also cooked for himself and ate the food that made him happy. He left Antholz-Anterselva as a man slightly confused after a monumental decision to retire at the end of the season. He returned a man rejuvenated, at peace with himself and the world around him - fully concentrated on biathlon. We have learned in the past that a Johannes in the flow is an unbeatable Johannes. 

And so it happened: he won in the Sprint and Pursuit and smashed two historical records in two days. With a gold in the Sprint, he collected his 21st gold medal at the World Championships - one more than Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. With a gold medal in the Pursuit, he also collected his 12th individual gold medal at the World Championships - one more than both Bjoerdndalen and Martin Fourcade, who finished their careers with 11.

Preuss crowned, at last

However, JT Boe was not the athlete who finished the first week of the Championships in Lenzerheide with the most medals. Franziska Preuss opened her account with a bronze in the Mixed Relay. She then went one better in the Sprint, finishing second for only her second individual medal at the World Championships after a silver in the Mass Start 10 years ago in Kontiolahti. She then clinched a win in the Pursuit in the cleanest, most elegant way, clearing all 20 targets and enjoying the final lap with tears of joy threatening to burst out before she crossed the finish line with a German flag in her hand - a rare luxury for any athlete. Preuss is also the sixth female biathlete in history to win her first individual World Championship title after thirty, the last before being Denise Herrmann-Wick in the Sprint in Oberhof 2023.

Grateful Wright stuns himself and the world

Campbell Wright, born in New Zealand and competing for the US, was perhaps the most refreshing surprise in the history of the IBU World Championships. Despite making history as the first biathlon World Championship medalist born in the Southern Hemisphere, the first individual World Championship medalist born in the 21st century, and, at 22 years, 8 months, and 22 days, the youngest individual World Championship medalist since Johannes won Sprint gold in Kontiolahti—337 days younger—Campbell Wright was far from an unknown breakthrough. Having finished fourth in the Sprint in Kontiolahti and frequently nearing the flower podium, his rise has been steadily building. Now leading the U23 Score, he is maturing as a biathlete with impeccable timing—fearless, in awe of his rapid progress, yet grounded and humbled by it.

I am just incredibly grateful to be in this position and to experience these moments. I began my biathlon journey in New Zealand and was unbelievably fortunate to cross paths with the people I have met, to have the coaches I do, and to be supported by my parents and friends.

Lenzerheide Master Justine and who also won medals

If Wright surprised everyone, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet continued where she left Lenzerheide last season - winning or being on the podium. She won in the Sprint for her second individual gold medal at the World Championships and finished third in the Pursuit, finishing the first week in Lenzerheide as the only woman from the mighty French women's team with an individual medal (two in her case). 

As for the French men, Quentin Fillon Maillet claimed bronze in the Sprint, while Eric Perrot secured bronze in the Pursuit—his first-ever individual medal at the World Championships. The same was true for Elvira Oeberg, who found herself in unfamiliar territory after falling ill before the Antholz-Anterselva week. Despite the setback, she patiently fought her way to a silver medal in the Pursuit (after finishing 10th in the Sprint), placing Team Sweden on the medal table.

Looking for more in the second week

Many big names will want more when the World Championships continue on Tuesday with the women’s Individual. Lou Jeanmonnot, perhaps the heaviest favourite of all before the individual races succumbed to the recurring pattern: the moment she misses the first shot, she can’t bounce back to the top. Sixth in the Sprint and fourth in the Pursuit is not what she expected. Julia Simon rushed things and was far from the medals. The same goes for Sebastian Samuelsson and Emilien Jacquelin and - somehow surprisingly - for the Norwegian men's team bar Johannes. As for the time being, even the Total Score leader Sturla Holm Laegreid couldn’t match the medallists with his ski speed.

Photo: Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus