New Gloucester, Maine - The final BMW IBU World Cup before next month’s Olympic Games kicks off Thursday in the Italian ski resort of Antholz-Anterselva. The eight American biathletes nominated to the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team will utilize the four-day event as the final high-level competition before the flame is lit in Beijing on Feb. 4.

The U.S. women’s team boasts three Olympic veterans in Susan Dunklee (Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA), Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) and Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, Colo.). They will be joined by first-time Olympian Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wis./National Guard Biathlon & USBA).

On the men’s side, Olympic newcomers Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minn./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) and Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis./Team Crosscut & USBA) will team up with three-time Olympians Leif Nordgren (Hinesburg, Vt./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) and Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H./National Guard Biathlon & USBA).

"Every day is an opportunity to put our primal tenacity on the line and anything is possible. I can't wait,” said Brown.

The four-day event schedule in Antholz will feature individual and mass start races as well as men’s and women’s relays, giving the U.S. team an opportunity to test their relay lineups one last time before the Olympic Games.

“Even when things were going well in the past months, a cloud of stress and uncertainty loomed over the team due to upcoming trials,” added Dunklee. “This is typical in Olympic years, but I was impressed by how gracefully this cohort of U.S. biathletes managed the pressure - both those who made the team and those who painfully missed the cut. Our final team is now selected and united for a final World Cup tune-up in the beautiful mountains of Antholz. It's going to be a great week."

Chad Salmela will be calling the races on NBC’s Peacock again this week! Check out the Watch Biathlon schedule for viewing options of this week’s races. You can also follow all the action on the IBU app - download it today!

https://apps.apple.com/app/official-ibu-app/id1581415457?l=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.ibu.ap p

BMW IBU World Cup – Antholz-Anterselva, Italy (all times EST)

Thursday, Jan. 20
8:15 am – Men’s 20km individual

Friday, Jan. 21
8:15 am – Women’s 15km individual

Saturday, Jan. 22
6:50 am – Men’s 15km mass start
9:00 am – Women’s 4x6km relay

Sunday, Jan. 23
6:15 am – Men’s 4x7.5km relay
9:15 am – Women’s 12.5km mass start

BMW IBU World Cup Antholz

Antholz World Cup Provides Final Tune-up Before Beijing

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