The IBU Academy has successfully launched the Pilot Third Level Coach Education Course, held from November 5 to 7, at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH) in Oslo. This three-day intensive learning experience welcomed ten participants from nine National Federations, marking an important step for the IBU Academy Coach Education Program.

The Third Level course is the final stage of the IBU Coach Education Program, designed to deliver advanced knowledge and skills to top-level biathlon coaches. Participants received expert instruction in critical areas including skiing technique, long-term training planning, shooting skills, physiology, environmental conditions, and media training. Among the esteemed educators were Norwegian Head Coach Siegfried Mazet, Italian Head Coach Jonne Kähkönen, and renowned exercise physiologist Professor Øyvind Sandbakk. Their combined expertise brought a wealth of practical and scientific insights to empower coaches to elevate their athletes' performance.

This event at NIH, supported by the IOC´s Olympic Solidarity Program, marked the first of three intensive training sessions planned for the Third Level program. The next sessions are scheduled for May 2025 at Mid Sweden University in Oestersund and July 2025 at the Olympic Venue in Antholz. These additional modules will continue to build on the curriculum introduced in Oslo, providing participants with in-depth, hands-on experience in diverse training environments.