Biathlete Renard Birkenthal made his World Cup debut more than five years ago, but in February he will face a new challenge, testing his strength on the Olympic track for the first time. In a conversation with LSM.lv, Birkentāls revealed that the hiring of a new coach and the improved training methodology made it possible to ensure the best start of the season in his career, while the athlete emphasized that a lot of work still needs to be done before the Milan-Cortina games.
The beginning of the season often serves as a reference point for biathletes – in the first stages, the athletic form is tested, and only then does it become apparent whether the work invested in training brings the expected results.
For Birkenthal, this test turned out to be particularly successful, because unlike previous years, when the run-in took longer, this time the start turned out to be much more convincing. In several World Cup races, Birkenthal was close to the TOP30. “The current start of the season is the best I’ve had so far both in terms of feeling and results,” the athlete admitted.
New coach and strategy
Birkenthal’s solid performance is no accident, but the result of bold decisions. This season, significant innovations were introduced in the training process, which initially raised concerns, but the first results quickly dispelled them.
“It’s a small relief – we tested a lot of new things in training and we didn’t know what the outcome would be. Of course, everything we did was justified, but at times we were a little doubtful. When the season started, we saw that it all worked out and helped us achieve better condition,” explained the biathlete.
In the preparation phase, Birkenthal revised his priorities, introducing a new approach to training planning and load distribution.
Along with more favorable conditions, the full implementation of the intended plan became the decisive factor. “This is the first time in my career that I can do everything without injuries, obstacles or limitations,” added the 24-year-old Talsi player.
Renars Birkenthal in the World Cup competition Archive photo. Added on 03/09/2025. SCANPIX/AFP
Cooperation with coach Kārli Vanag, whose joining the national team has given additional motivation, plays an equally important role in daily work. Birkentāls said that the team is ambitious and the bar has been raised higher than simple participation in the competition, which was not typical of the coaching staff of the Latvian national team before.
In addition, there is open and professional communication between the two, combining purposeful discussions with mutual understanding. “Once upon a time he [Kārlis] also slows me down a bit. I have a lot of different ideas that maybe shouldn’t even be implemented,” laughs Birkenthal.
Although the Latvian is satisfied with his fitness and speed on the track, biathlon is unimaginable without stability in the shooting range, which Birkenthal still needs to work on.
According to him, shooting is a long-term skill, so the most important thing is to keep working and wait patiently for the result.
On the other hand, when you step into the firing line on the day of the competition, it is mental focus and the ability to separate yourself from the environment that comes to the fore. “The main task is to focus on those 30 seconds in the shooting range, and that’s what the biggest emphasis is on right now,” the athlete noted.
Birkenthal does not feel pressure before the starts, because he believes that it is caused only by his own expectations. Thanks to a high-quality training cycle, the athlete is confident in his abilities, which allows him to remain calm and clear minded, as well as to avoid doubts about the work done.
Olympic debut awaits
Birkentals praises the physical and mental form before the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, noting that the desired level of preparation has already been reached. However, the biathlete anticipates a complete change of focus to the Olympic starts only two weeks before the upcoming competition.
It is significant that this season Birkenthal made a conscious decision not to return home during the New Year’s holidays, instead conducting a training session in Italy and setting a clear task – to create the best possible conditions in order to be able to demonstrate a high-quality performance in the biggest sporting event of the quadrennial.
Looking at the venue of the competition, the biathlete revealed that he started getting to know the specifics of the track already three years ago.
Several camps have been held in Anterselva, including during the preparation phase of the current season, which has allowed for a better understanding of both high-altitude conditions and their effects on the body.
“That’s right [trase] is located 1600 meters above sea level, which complicates the situation a little. The shooting range is also difficult – there is a big difference in breathing that needs to be taken into account, so we have adjusted a lot of things in both shooting and physical [sagatavotībā]to adapt to the track,” said Birkenthal.
Biathlete Renārs Birkentāls in competition at the World Cup stage Photo: SCANPIX/AFP
However, the closer the Olympic Games come, the clearer Birkenthal’s restrained view of them becomes. He does not hide that there is no place for too much euphoria: “To be honest, there is not as much excitement as it might seem, because the qualification is only ten percent of what needs to be done. I look at it more like this – after the games we will be able to take a breather and look back on what we have done.”
Since events in sports competitions develop rapidly, Birkenthal emphasized that predicting specific places or results would be pointless at the moment.
His main goal is to show maximum performance on the track and return home with the confidence that everything possible has been done – only in this way can he get full satisfaction from what he has done, regardless of the final result.
Also, Birkenthal reminds that success depends on joint efforts, so the support of the fans is of incalculable importance. “If we are united, we will lift each other up and the results will be better,” he added.
CONTEXT:
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games will take place from February 6 to 22. Latvia will be represented in the biathlon competition by eight athletes – the experienced Andrejs Rastorgujevs and Baiba Bendikas, as well as Estere Wolfa, Sanita Buliņa, Annija Keita Sabule, Renārs Birkentāls, Rihards Lozbers and Edgars Mise.
