Biathlon World Cup
| IBU World Cup Biathlon | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Sporting event |
| Date | Northern wintertime season |
| Begins | November |
| Ends | March |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Country | Varying |
| Inaugurated | January 1978 |
| Area | Europe, North America |
| Organised by | International Biathlon Union |
| Sponsor | BMW[1] |
| 2025–26 Biathlon World Cup | |
The Biathlon World Cup is a top-level biathlon season-long competition series. It has been held since the winter seasons of 1977–78 for men and 1982–83 for women. The women's seasons until 1986–87 season were called the European Cup, although participation was not restricted to Europeans.
Competition and format
The World Cup season lasts from November or December to late March, with meetings in a different venue every week excluding some holidays and a couple of weeks before the season's major championships (World Championships or Winter Olympics). All in all, the season comprises nine to ten meetings, with events taking place from Wednesday–Thursday through Sunday. Relay competitions are held four to six times per season. Formerly counted as World Cup events were World Championships (the last Championship to count towards the World Cup were held in Pokljuka, Slovenia 2021) and Winter Olympics events (the last Olympics to count towards the World Cup were the 2010 Winter Olympics: from the 2014 Winter Olympics competitors are no longer awarded World Cup points for their Olympic performances).[2]
The athlete with the highest overall total score (i.e. total score for all disciplines) of the World Cup season is awarded the Big Crystal Globe trophy. A Small Crystal Globe trophy is awarded for the first place in the season total for each discipline. Hence, it is possible for an athlete to win both the Big Crystal Globe and Small Crystal Globes for the same World Cup season.[3]
The tables given below provide an overview of the highest-ranking biathletes and nations of each WC season. For sprint/individual/pursuit/mass start first place gives 90 points, 2nd place – 75 pts, 3rd place – 65 pts, 4th place – 55 pts, 5th place – 50 pts, 6th place – 45 pts, 7th – 41 pts, 8th – 37 points, 9th – 34 points, 10th – 31 points, then linearly decreasing by one point down to the 40th place. In Equal placings (ties) give an equal number of points. The mass start from 22nd to 30th has different way of points giving. The sum of all WC points of the season, less the points from an IBU-predetermined number of events (e.g. 2), gives the biathlete's total WC score.
From 1985 to 2000, WC points were awarded so that the first four places gave 30, 26, 24, and 22 points, respectively, and then the 5th to 25th place gave 21, 20, ..., down to 1 point. Before this, points were simply awarded linearly from 25 to 1.
As of February 2024, meetings have primarily been held in Europe and North America; the only other places to have hosted meetings that weren't the World Championships or the Winter Olympics, are Nagano, Japan in 1996–97, and Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2007–08 and 2016–17.
Overall winners
Individual total men
- Romanization of Cyrillic script-based names follows the IBU's athlete records.
- See the List of IOC country codes for expansions of country abbreviations.
Individual total women
- Romanization of Cyrillic script-based names follows the IBU's athlete records.
- See the List of IOC country codes for expansions of country abbreviations.
The women's World Cup seasons until 1986–87 were actually called the European Cup, although participation was open to biathletes of all nationalities. Until 1987–88, women raced on shorter tracks than they do today. The 1988–89 season was the first in which women raced on tracks of the same length that they do nowadays.
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Individual total U25 / U23
The U25 and U23 classifications were introduced in the Biathlon World Cup to recognize the best young biathletes under the age of 25 and under the age of 23, respectively. The titles are awarded based on the total points accumulated in all individual competitions throughout the season. The U25 category was contested from the 2020–21 season until 2023–24, while the U23 category replaced it starting from the 2024–25 season. Below are the podium finishers for both men and women since the inception of the classifications, as well as medal tables by country.
Men's U25 / U23
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Women's U25 / U23
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Individual discipline titles
List of Biathlon World Cup winners of men's discipline titles, List of Biathlon World Cup winners of women's discipline titles
Men's titles
| Season | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–89 | Alexandr Popov | Eirik Kvalfoss | no competition | no competition |
| 1989–90 | Sergei Tchepikov | Juri Kashkarov | ||
| 1990–91 | Mark Kirchner | Sergei Tchepikov | ||
| 1991–92 | Jon Åge Tyldum | Sylfest Glimsdal | ||
| 1992–93 | Mikael Löfgren | Sven Fischer | ||
| 1993–94 | Patrice Bailly-Salins | Sven Fischer | ||
| 1994–95 | Patrick Favre | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | ||
| 1995–96 | Vladimir Drachev | Vladimir Drachev | ||
| 1996–97 | Ricco Groß | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Viktor Maigourov | |
| 1997–98 | Halvard Hanevold | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Sven Fischer | |
| 1998–99 | Pavel Rostovtsev | Sven Fischer | Raphaël Poirée | Sven Fischer |
| 1999–00 | Frank Luck | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Raphaël Poirée |
| 2000–01 | Sergei Rozhkov | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Raphaël Poirée | Sven Fischer (2) |
| 2001–02 | Frank Luck (2) | Sven Fischer (4) | Raphaël Poirée | Viktor Maigourov |
| 2002–03 | Halvard Hanevold (2) | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Ole Einar Bjørndalen |
| 2003–04 | Raphaël Poirée | Raphaël Poirée | Raphaël Poirée (4) | Raphaël Poirée |
| 2004–05 | Michael Greis | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Sven Fischer (2) | Raphaël Poirée (3) |
| Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | |||
| 2005–06 | Michael Greis | Tomasz Sikora | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Ole Einar Bjørndalen |
| 2006–07 | Raphaël Poirée (2) | Michael Greis | Dmitry Yaroshenko | Ole Einar Bjørndalen |
| 2007–08 | Vincent Defrasne | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Ole Einar Bjørndalen (5) |
| 2008–09 | Michael Greis (3) | Ole Einar Bjørndalen (9) | Ole Einar Bjørndalen (5) | Dominik Landertinger |
| 2009–10 | Christoph Sumann | Emil Hegle Svendsen | Martin Fourcade | Christoph Sumann |
| 2010–11 | Emil Hegle Svendsen | Tarjei Bø | Tarjei Bø | Emil Hegle Svendsen |
| 2011–12 | Simon Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Andreas Birnbacher |
| 2012–13 | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade |
| 2013–14 | Emil Hegle Svendsen | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade |
| 2014–15 | Serhiy Semenov | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Anton Shipulin |
| 2015–16 | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade |
| 2016–17 | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade |
| 2017–18 | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade | Martin Fourcade (8) | Martin Fourcade (5) |
| Johannes Thingnes Bø | ||||
| 2018–19 | Johannes Thingnes Bø | Johannes Thingnes Bø | Johannes Thingnes Bø | Johannes Thingnes Bø |
| 2019–20 | Martin Fourcade (5) | Martin Fourcade (8) | Émilien Jacquelin | Johannes Thingnes Bø |
| 2020–21 | Sturla Holm Lægreid | Johannes Thingnes Bø | Sturla Holm Lægreid | Tarjei Bø |
| 2021–22 | Tarjei Bø | Quentin Fillon Maillet | Quentin Fillon Maillet | Sivert Guttorm Bakken |
| 2022–23 | Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen | Johannes Thingnes Bø | Johannes Thingnes Bø | Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen |
| 2023–24 | Johannes Thingnes Bø (3) | Tarjei Bø (2) | Johannes Thingnes Bø (3) | Johannes Thingnes Bø (3) |
| 2024–25 | Sturla Holm Lægreid (2) | Johannes Thingnes Bø (4) | Sturla Holm Lægreid (2) | Sturla Holm Lægreid |
| 2025–26 | Éric Perrot | Sturla Holm Lægreid | Éric Perrot | Éric Perrot |
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Women's titles
| Season | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–89 | Elena Golovina | Elena Golovina | no competition | no competition |
| 1989–90 | Elena Golovina (2) | Jiřina Adamičková | ||
| 1990–91 | Svetlana Davidova | Uschi Disl | ||
| 1991–92 | Anfisa Reztsova | Anfisa Reztsova | ||
| 1992–93 | Anfisa Reztsova (2) | Anfisa Reztsova (2) | ||
| 1993–94 | Nathalie Santer | Svetlana Paramygina | ||
| 1994–95 | Svetlana Paramygina | Anne Briand | ||
| 1995–96 | Andreja Grašič | Emmanuelle Claret | ||
| 1996–97 | Uschi Disl | Uschi Disl (2) | Magdalena Forsberg | |
| 1997–98 | Magdalena Forsberg | Magdalena Forsberg | Magdalena Forsberg | |
| 1998–99 | Uschi Disl (2) | Magdalena Forsberg | Olena Zubrilova | Olena Zubrilova |
| 1999–00 | Magdalena Forsberg | Magdalena Forsberg | Magdalena Forsberg | Galina Koukleva |
| 2000–01 | Magdalena Forsberg | Magdalena Forsberg | Magdalena Forsberg | Magdalena Forsberg |
| 2001–02 | Magdalena Forsberg (4) | Magdalena Forsberg (5) | Magdalena Forsberg (5) | Magdalena Forsberg (2) |
| 2002–03 | Linda Tjørhom | Sylvie Becaert | Martina Glagow | Albina Akhatova |
| 2003–04 | Olga Pyleva | Liv Grete Poirée | Liv Grete Poirée | Liv Grete Poirée |
| 2004–05 | Olga Pyleva (2) | Kati Wilhelm | Sandrine Bailly | Olga Zaitseva |
| 2005–06 | Svetlana Ishmouratova | Kati Wilhelm (2) | Kati Wilhelm | Martina Glagow |
| 2006–07 | Andrea Henkel | Anna Carin Olofsson | Kati Wilhelm | Kati Wilhelm |
| 2007–08 | Martina Glagow | Magdalena Neuner | Sandrine Bailly (2) | Magdalena Neuner |
| 2008–09 | Magdalena Neuner | Helena Jonsson | Kati Wilhelm (3) | Helena Jonsson |
| 2009–10 | Anna Carin Zidek | Simone Hauswald | Magdalena Neuner | Magdalena Neuner (2) |
| 2010–11 | Helena Ekholm | Magdalena Neuner | Kaisa Mäkäräinen | Darya Domracheva |
| 2011–12 | Helena Ekholm (2) | Magdalena Neuner (3) | Darya Domracheva | Darya Domracheva |
| 2012–13 | Tora Berger | Tora Berger | Tora Berger | Tora Berger |
| 2013–14 | Gabriela Soukalová | Kaisa Mäkäräinen | Kaisa Mäkäräinen | Darya Domracheva (3) |
| 2014–15 | Kaisa Mäkäräinen | Darya Domracheva | Darya Domracheva (2) | Franziska Preuß |
| Kaisa Mäkäräinen (3) | ||||
| 2015–16 | Dorothea Wierer | Gabriela Soukalová | Gabriela Soukalová | Gabriela Soukalová |
| 2016–17 | Laura Dahlmeier | Gabriela Koukalová (2) | Laura Dahlmeier | Gabriela Koukalová (2) |
| 2017–18 | Nadezhda Skardino | Anastasiya Kuzmina | Anastasiya Kuzmina | Kaisa Mäkäräinen |
| 2018–19 | Lisa Vittozzi | Anastasiya Kuzmina (2) | Dorothea Wierer | Hanna Öberg |
| 2019–20 | Hanna Öberg | Denise Herrmann | Tiril Eckhoff | Dorothea Wierer |
| 2020–21 | Lisa Theresa Hauser | Tiril Eckhoff | Tiril Eckhoff (2) | Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold |
| Dorothea Wierer (2) | ||||
| 2021–22 | Markéta Davidová | Marte Olsbu Røiseland | Marte Olsbu Røiseland | Justine Braisaz-Bouchet |
| 2022–23 | Lisa Vittozzi | Denise Herrmann-Wick (2) | Julia Simon | Julia Simon |
| 2023–24 | Lisa Vittozzi (3) | Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold | Lisa Vittozzi | Lou Jeanmonnot |
| 2024–25 | Lou Jeanmonnot | Franziska Preuß | Lou Jeanmonnot | Franziska Preuß (2) |
| 2025–26 | Lou Jeanmonnot (2) | Lou Jeanmonnot | Lou Jeanmonnot (2) |
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Relay titles
Men's relay
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Women's relay
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Mixed relay
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Nations Cup
Men's Nations Cup
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Women's Nations Cup
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Race winners
Below is a list of all male and female biathletes that have won eight or more individual World Cup, World Championships or Olympic races. Biathletes whose names are highlighted in light blue are still active.[6]
- Updated: 20 March 2026
Men
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Women
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Most wins & podiums in a season
Most wins in a season
Men
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Women
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Most podiums in a season
Men
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Women
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Most starts
List of top 10 most started all male and female biathletes in individual World Cup or Olympic races. Biathletes whose names are highlighted in light blue are still active.[7]
- Updated: 12 March 2026
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See also
References
- ^ "Infront, BMW Germany Renew Partnership For IBU, IBSF, FIL Events". Sports Business Journal. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "World Cup Biathlon Victories: How Many for Ole?". International Biathlon Union. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ Nordvall, Michael (2017). Two Skis and a Rifle: An Introduction to Biathlon. Michael P Nordvall.
- ^ "Records Men | Real Biathlon". RealBiathlon.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Records Women | Real Biathlon". RealBiathlon.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Men's Overall records". realbiathlon.com.
- ^ "Overall Records - real biathlon".