It was sprint biathlon day at Mt. Van Hoevenberg on Wednesday as Poland’s Anna Nedza-Kubiniec and Kazakhstan’s Bekentay Turlubekov won gold in the women’s 7.5km and men’s 10km at the 2023 FISU World University Games in Lake Placid.

Turlubekov, a student at the University of A. Myrzakhmetova Kokshetau, made no mistakes on the shooting range and won the men’s race with a time of 27:51.5, 8.3 seconds ahead of American Bjorn Westervelt, who missed one shot both in the prone and standing positions.

“I am very happy to win the gold medal,” said the champion. “The course was perfectly prepared, so the race was fun. I was in good shape. It was the perfect event for our team.”

All three other players from Kazakhstan placed in the top five, with bronze going to Alexandr Mukhin, who also attends the University of Kazakhstan. A. Myrzakhmetova Kokshetau.

“Very amazing, very special to do this on a home field,” commented Westervelt. “I’ve never raced this full course before, but I’ve been shooting range and other loops in the back.”

In the late afternoon, it was the ladies who started to shine.

Nedza-Kubiniec received two penalties, but still advanced to her first Olympic gold medal with a 24-second lead, 24:17.1.

“I’ll call my family and boyfriend,” she replied when asked about the first thing she would do after the ceremony.

“I didn’t expect a gold medal after two penalties. But it’s OK now, it’s an amazing feeling” – added a student of the Korczak University in Katowice.

With just one mistake on the shooting range, Canadian Shilo Rousseau added silver to her collection of Lake Placid 2023 medals. On Saturday, she triumphed in the 12.5 km individual race.

“Especially after my team went through a relay race one day with pretty bad shooting, it was good to hit the target again and prove to myself that I can still shoot well,” said the 22-year-old University of Ottawa student.

The Czech Tereza Jandova lost 44.2 seconds to the winner and won the bronze medal. She was already third in the 12.5 km individual run, and on Monday she won gold in the mixed team relay, making her one of the Olympics’ most successful athletes.

“I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved so far,” Jandova said after the race.

The biathlon continues on Thursday with the men’s 12.5km and women’s 10km pursuits.

Written by Miha Trošt, FISU Young Reporter

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