The 24th Biathlon World Championships

Biathlon World Championships

The first Biathlon World Championships was held in 1958, with individual and team contests for men. The number of events has grown significantly over the years. Beginning in 1984, women biathletes had their own World Championships, and finally, from 1989, both genders have been participating in...

were held in 1989 in Feistritz

Feistritz an der Drau

Feistritz an der Drau is a village in the municipality of Paternion, in Carinthia, Austria.The 1989 Biathlon World Championship was held here, the first joint Men and Women BWCH.The Windische Höhe Pass connects St...

, Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

. These world championships were the first to hold the men's and women's championships simultaneously.

10 km sprint

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	Frank Luck Frank Luck Frank Luck is a former German biathlete. Frank Luck started early with cross country skiing, but in 1980 he went over to biathlon. By 1988 at the age of 21 he had already qualified for the Winter Olympics in Calgary, where he finished sixth in the sprint event...	German Democratic Republic	0	28:08.7
	Eirik Kvalfoss Eirik Kvalfoss Eirik Kvalfoss is a former biathlete from Voss, Norway. He won three medals during the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo: gold in the 10 km sprint, silver in relay and bronze in the 20 km individual. In total Kvalfoss won 11 individual Olympic and World Championship medals between 1982–1991, as...	Norway	1	28:14.1
	Juri Kashkarov	Soviet Union	1	28:32.7

20 km individual

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	Eirik Kvalfoss Eirik Kvalfoss Eirik Kvalfoss is a former biathlete from Voss, Norway. He won three medals during the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo: gold in the 10 km sprint, silver in relay and bronze in the 20 km individual. In total Kvalfoss won 11 individual Olympic and World Championship medals between 1982–1991, as...	Norway	1	58:13.0
	Gisle Fenne Gisle Fenne Gisle Fenne is a former Norwegian biathlete from Voss near Bergen. His best known international achievement was the silver medal in the 20 km individual in the World Championships 1989 in Feistritz an der Drau. He succeeded in many duels with team mate Eirik Kvalfoss...	Norway	0	59:20.8
	Fritz Fischer Fritz Fischer (biathlete) Friedrich "Fritz" Fischer is a former biathlete from Germany. He won a gold medal with Germany in the 4 x 7.5 km relay in the 1992 Winter Olympics.-References:*...	West Germany	2	1:00:48.1

4 x 7.5 km relay

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	East Germany Frank Luck Frank Luck Frank Luck is a former German biathlete. Frank Luck started early with cross country skiing, but in 1980 he went over to biathlon. By 1988 at the age of 21 he had already qualified for the Winter Olympics in Calgary, where he finished sixth in the sprint event... André Sehmisch André Sehmisch André Sehmisch . Is a former German biathlete. In 1987 and 1989 he became world champion with the East German relay team. In 1986 he won the overall World Cup. Sehmisch retired in 1993. Later he opened a skiing school. He began his career at the SG Dynamo Schwarzenberg/ Sportvereinigung Dynamo... Birk Anders Birk Anders Birk Anders is a former German biathlete. During his career he won two gold medals at the Biathlon World Championships. He represented the sports club SG Dynamo Zinnwald/Sportvereinigung Dynamo.-References:... Frank-Peter Roetsch Frank-Peter Roetsch Frank-Peter Roetsch is a German former biathlete. He was the first biathlete to use the skating technique when he won a clear victory in Oberhof 1985.-Holmenkollen:...	German Democratic Republic
	Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... Juri Kashkarov Sergei Tchepikov Sergei Tchepikov Sergey Vladimirovich Tchepikov |Khor]], Khabarovsk Krai) is a former Soviet-Russian biathlete and cross country skier who competed at six Winter Olympics, five in biathlon and one in cross country skiing... Alexandr Popov Sergei Bulygin	Soviet Union
	Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... Geir Einang Geir Einang Geir Einang is a former Norwegian biathlete.He participated in the Norwegian team that received bronze medals in the 4 x 7.5 km relay in the Biathlon World Championships in Feistritz an der Drau in 1989, and in Lahti in 1991.-References:... Sylfest Glimsdal Sylfest Glimsdal Sylfest Glimsdal is a former Norwegian biathlete. In the 1991/92 season he came third in the overall World Cup standings, behind Jon Åge Tyldum and Mikael Löfgren. During his career he won one gold, one silver and one bronze medal at World Championships. In 1998 he ended his career as a... Gisle Fenne Gisle Fenne Gisle Fenne is a former Norwegian biathlete from Voss near Bergen. His best known international achievement was the silver medal in the 20 km individual in the World Championships 1989 in Feistritz an der Drau. He succeeded in many duels with team mate Eirik Kvalfoss... Eirik Kvalfoss Eirik Kvalfoss Eirik Kvalfoss is a former biathlete from Voss, Norway. He won three medals during the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo: gold in the 10 km sprint, silver in relay and bronze in the 20 km individual. In total Kvalfoss won 11 individual Olympic and World Championship medals between 1982–1991, as...	Norway

Team event

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... Juri Kashkarov Sergei Bulygin Alexandr Popov Sergei Tchepikov Sergei Tchepikov Sergey Vladimirovich Tchepikov |Khor]], Khabarovsk Krai) is a former Soviet-Russian biathlete and cross country skier who competed at six Winter Olympics, five in biathlon and one in cross country skiing...	Soviet Union	1	59:36.9
	West Germany West Germany West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990.... Franz Wudy Herbert Fritzenwenger Herbert Fritzenwenger Herbert Fritzenwenger was a West German cross country skier and Biathlete who competed in the late 1980s. During his career he collected a silver medal and 2 bronze medals at World Championships.-External links:*... Georg Fischer Georg Fischer Georg Fischer was a West German cross country skier and biathlete who competed in the 1980s. He finished seventh in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.-External links:* *... Fritz Fischer Fritz Fischer (biathlete) Friedrich "Fritz" Fischer is a former biathlete from Germany. He won a gold medal with Germany in the 4 x 7.5 km relay in the 1992 Winter Olympics.-References:*...	West Germany	2	59:44.2
	East Germany Andreas Heymann André Sehmisch André Sehmisch André Sehmisch . Is a former German biathlete. In 1987 and 1989 he became world champion with the East German relay team. In 1986 he won the overall World Cup. Sehmisch retired in 1993. Later he opened a skiing school. He began his career at the SG Dynamo Schwarzenberg/ Sportvereinigung Dynamo... Raik Dittrich Raik Dittrich Raik Dittrich is a retired East German biathlete who won two World Championships medals. He represented the sports club SG Dynamo Zinnwald/Sportvereinigung Dynamo.- References :... Steffen Hoos	German Democratic Republic	1	1:01:27.1

7.5 km sprint

This marked the first time that the women's sprint event was held over 7.5 km in the World Championships.

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	Anne Elvebakk Anne Elvebakk Anne Elisabeth Elvebakk is a former biathlete from Norway. She has received twelve World championship medals. In 1988 she won the biathlon world cup.-References:**...	Norway	2	27:12.3
	Zvetana Krasteva	Bulgaria	2	27:15.4
	Natalya Prikostshikova	Soviet Union	3	27:24.8

15 km individual

This marked the first time that the women's individual event was held over 15 km in the World Championships.

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	Petra Schaaf Petra Behle Petra Behle is a former German biathlete- Career :Behle won her first gold medal in the 1988 World Championships when she was 19 and she also has three gold medals in the 15 km that happened in 1989, 1991 and 1993 she also has three biathlon-world championship medals in relays from 1995, 1996 and...	West Germany	2	1:06:11.2
	Anne Elvebakk Anne Elvebakk Anne Elisabeth Elvebakk is a former biathlete from Norway. She has received twelve World championship medals. In 1988 she won the biathlon world cup.-References:**...	Norway	3	1:06:31.6
	Svetlana Davidova	Soviet Union	3	1:07:25.2

3 x 7.5 km relay

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... Natalia Prikostshikova Svetlana Davidova Elena Golovina	Soviet Union	0	1:23:15.5
	Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... Zvetana Krasteva Maria Manolova Nadezhda Aleksieva	Bulgaria	0	1:25:29.9
	Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992... Eva Burešová Renata Novotná Jiřina Adamičková	Czechoslovakia	0	1:26:07.5

Team event

Medal	Name	Nation	Penalties	Result
	Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... Natalia Prikostshikova Svetlana Davidova Luisa Zherepenova Elena Golovina	Soviet Union	13	1:05:38.8
	Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... Synnøve Thoresen Synnøve Thoresen Synnøve Thoresen is a former Norwegian biathlete. She participated on the Norwegian team that received a silver medal in the team race in 1989. She received a bronze medal in 1991.-References:... Elin Kristiansen Elin Kristiansen Elin Kristiansen is a former biathlete from Norway. She won two individual World Championships medals, one in 1988 when she won silver at the 10 km event and a bronze in 1990 from the sprint event... Anne Elvebakk Anne Elvebakk Anne Elisabeth Elvebakk is a former biathlete from Norway. She has received twelve World championship medals. In 1988 she won the biathlon world cup.-References:**... Mona Bollerud Mona Bollerud Mona Bollerud is a former Norwegian biathlete. She participated on the Norwegian team that received a silver medal in the 3 x 5 km relay in the 1988 Biathlon World Championships. She received a silver medal in the team event in 1989.-References:...	Norway	13	1:07:48.0
	West Germany West Germany West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990.... Inga Kesper Daniela Hörburger Dorina Pieper Petra Schaaf Petra Behle Petra Behle is a former German biathlete- Career :Behle won her first gold medal in the 1988 World Championships when she was 19 and she also has three gold medals in the 15 km that happened in 1989, 1991 and 1993 she also has three biathlon-world championship medals in relays from 1995, 1996 and...	West Germany	11	1:07:54.1

Medal table

Place	Nation				Total
1	Soviet Union	3	1	3	7
2	Norway	2	4	1	7
3	German Democratic Republic	2	0	1	3
4	West Germany	1	1	2	4
5	Kingdom of Bulgaria	0	2	0	2
6	Czechoslovakia	0	0	1	1