Saving perhaps the finest moments of his career for the once-in-a-generation weekend of high drama and the most intense, profound, and beautiful emotions that only sport can create, Sturla Holm Laegreid won the BMW IBU World Cup Total Score title, the most coveted trophy in biathlon. He did so at home, in Oslo, in a direct duel with Johannes Thingnes Boe, one of the greatest winter athletes. And he did so on a weekend when Johannes and his brother Tarjei said goodbye to biathlon.

BW: You clinched the Total Score in the Pursuit, in a direct duel with Johannes, in the most glorious manner, clearing all 20 targets. You won with Johannes Thingnes at his best. Does this make it even more valuable?

SHL: Of course. I wanted to win against Johannes in full health and able to compete. I wanted to show that I deserved the Globe. And to win it in a direct battle, with Johannes at his best means a lot. I feel I deserve to take the torch and carry on with his legacy.

BW: A whirlwind of emotions must be intense. What do you feel: elevation, relief, satisfaction?

SHL: It is a mix of everything. Most of all, I am really, really happy that I managed to finish the job. I am relieved that I didn’t crack under the pressure of such a big occasion. And I am really, really proud of the way that I executed Sprint and Pursuit, by shooting 30/30 and performing at my absolute best. But - believe it or not - I am already thinking about what is next.

BW: And what is next?

SHL: The Olympic Winter Games will be the main goal for the next season.

BW: You finished second three times. Emil Hegle Svendsen did so four times, but he won the Total Score before the second-place series. You are a well-deserved winner at last. Have you ever stopped believing?

SHL: I felt that I performed at a very high level in the 2022/2023 season, but it just so happened that Johannes had the best season of all time. At the end of that season, I thought that perhaps it wasn’t just up to me—Johannes was simply performing on another level. But I kept working hard, moving forward with small steps: I stabilised my shooting performance even further and improved my skiing technique, which increased my speed on the tracks. That proved to me that you can always keep improving, giving me motivation for the seasons to come.

BW: What mindset were you in before the Pursuit?

SHL: I stayed in my apartment in Oslo instead of the hotel because I was afraid of getting sick. Even my girlfriend wasn’t with me—I was 100% focused on the task. After the Pursuit, I moved into the hotel, thinking I would be able to relax. But at 1:30 in the morning, I was wide awake. I got up, took my car, and drove home. Only then was I able to fall asleep properly. This break in my routine may have cost me some focus in the Mass Start, as my zeroing was poor. The Sprint and Pursuit effort had taken everything out of me.

BW: Are you ready top take over from Johannes and be the new boss of men’s biathlon?

SHL: Of course! I am ready to be the team captain. I hope to be able to transfer the legacy to the next generation with such care as Johannes and Tarjei did for me. I got the best possible entry in the World Cup, and I would like to replicate that for the younger guys on the Norwegian team.

Photos: IBU/Nordnes, Manzoni, Nordic Focus