OSLO, Norway – Tereza Voborníková of the Czech Republic secured a third-place finish in the final women’s mass start competition of the biathlon World Cup season in Oslo-Holmenkollen on Sunday, adding another medal to a remarkable 2025-2026 campaign. The 25-year-old’s performance builds on her bronze medal from the same event at the February Olympic Games in Anterselva, solidifying her status as a rising star in the sport.
“I’m so happy that it worked out and I can add another medal to the collection,” Voborníková told Czech Television after the race. The Holmenkollen venue, steeped in biathlon tradition, provided the backdrop for a thrilling finish to the World Cup season.
Voborníková steadily climbed the leaderboard throughout the 12.5km race, demonstrating her consistent shooting prowess. After a clean first prone stage, she sat tenth and moved up to seventh after the second prone shooting. She began to challenge for the podium positions after the first standing stage, moving into fourth place.
As the race progressed, Voborníková found herself within striking distance of the leaders. Approaching the final shooting stage, she trailed Hanna Öberg of Sweden by less than 15 seconds, with Öberg’s sister, Elvira, also in contention. A costly miss on her final shot, however, momentarily jeopardized her podium hopes.
“It was a classic silly mistake. I pulled it forward without really getting on target. I don’t know, it was a lack of concentration,” Voborníková admitted. “Fortunately, it turned out well, but I could have gained twenty seconds into the final lap,” she added, reflecting on the missed opportunity.
The penalty loop dropped her 19 seconds behind Hanna Öberg and more than ten seconds behind Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi. She entered the final lap with a seven-second advantage over Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold. Despite the setback, Voborníková dug deep, ultimately holding off Elvira Öberg by less than five seconds to secure the bronze medal.
“Thank God I managed it in that last lap, so the shot doesn’t hurt so much anymore,” Voborníková said, relieved to have secured the podium finish despite the late error.
Vittozzi ultimately claimed victory, finishing 17.2 seconds ahead of Voborníková. The Italian was the fourth fastest skier on the day, but her consistent shooting proved decisive. Hanna Öberg finished second, 4.2 seconds behind Vittozzi.
The result capped a stellar season for Voborníková, a two-time junior world champion from 2022. She finished in the top ten in six of her last eight individual races, demonstrating remarkable consistency. In the overall World Cup standings, Voborníková achieved a career-best 12th place, improving upon her previous best of 16th two years ago. She also finished fifth in the discipline standings, while France’s Julia Simon claimed the small crystal globe.
The women’s race was a testament to the competitive depth of the biathlon World Cup. Vittozzi, the Olympic champion in the pursuit event, secured her 12th career victory, having missed only one shot in the first shooting stage and posting the fifth-fastest time on the course.
Hornig Leads Czech Men in Oslo
In the men’s mass start competition, Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn took the victory, defeating Germany’s Philipp Nawrath by 3.7 seconds. France’s Éric Perrot, already crowned the overall World Cup champion, finished third. Vítězslav Hornig was the top Czech finisher, placing 19th.
Hornig’s performance was hampered by three errors in the third shooting stage, while Michal Krčmář finished 25th after incurring four penalty loops, and Mikuláš Karlík finished 28th with six errors.
“It’s harder to evaluate this race compared to Tereza Voborníková’s bronze. It’s behind us now,” Czech team coach Michael Málek told Czech Television. “If I have to highlight something, I think one stop at the range for each of our athletes was unnecessary. Each of the guys had a triple penalty in one shooting stage, and that’s no chance in a race like this.”
Hornig concluded the season as the highest-ranked Czech biathlete, finishing 19th overall – one position higher than his result last year. Krčmář finished 20th.
Hornig had a strong start to the race, sitting ninth after two clean prone stages. However, a disappointing standing stage, where he missed three targets, dropped him down the standings. He regained ground with a clean final shooting stage, ultimately finishing ahead of Switzerland’s Niklas Hartweg and Germany’s Philipp Horn.
Botn, the Olympic champion in the individual event, secured his fifth victory of the season and his career, thanks to flawless shooting. Nawrath was the only other competitor to complete the course without penalty loops.
Final Results – Oslo Biathlon World Cup (Mass Start):
Women (12.5km): 1. Vittozzi (ITA) 34:58.9 (1 penalty loop), 2. H. Öberg (SWE) +4.2 (1), 3. Voborníková (CZE) +17.2 (1), 4. E. Öberg (SWE) +21.8 (2), 5. Tandrevold (NOR) +24.7 (2), 6. Simon (FRA) +26.8 (3), …26. Charvátová (CZE) +3:09.4 (5).
Men (15km): 1. Botn (NOR) 37:15.6 (0 penalty loops), 2. Nawrath (GER) +3.7 (0), 3. Perrot (FRA) +13.7 (2), 4. Laegreid (NOR) +20.6 (1), 5. Jacquelin (FRA) +23.9 (3), 6. Ponsiluoma (SWE) +26.5 (3), …19. Hornig (CZE) +2:19.7 (3), 25. Krčmář (CZE) +3:18.7 (4), 28. Karlík (CZE) +4:27.1 (6).
The biathlon World Cup season has concluded, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next competition. Voborníková’s impressive performance in Oslo signals a bright future for the Czech biathlete, and her continued success will undoubtedly be a focal point in the years to come.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the biathlon World Cup and other winter sports action.
Keep reading
