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Defined by the Team, Embraced by the Community

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by Sara Donatello

Respect. Grit. Growth mindset. These aren’t just words - they are values that only gain meaning when put into action. Through team sessions in Vuokatti, Finland in November 2024 and again in Lake Placid, New York in June 2025, athletes, coaches, and staff of the U.S. Biathlon Team came together to define what it truly means to be a part of our community and to shape a shared team culture rooted in excellence.


Respect

Honor the team, the process, the person. 

We honor each other, the process, and the pursuit of excellence by showing up prepared, being fully present, and treating others with dignity. Respect means listening deeply, communicating clearly, and creating space for everyone to thrive – because how we show up affects how others rise.


Grit

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. 

True courage is not the absence of failure – it’s the strength to show up again and again. We face adversity with grit, push through discomfort, and commit to the process, even when it’s hard. We take pride in effort, reset with purpose, and persevere with integrity and our inner strength. 


Growth Mindset

Curious. Courageous. Committed.

We are learners at every level, driven to innovate and improve. We embrace challenges, seek feedback, and step outside our comfort zones. Growth mindset means we value progress over perfection, stay open to change, and are relentless in the pursuit of becoming better – as athletes, teammates, and people.


“From seasoned veterans to rising juniors, the U.S. Biathlon Team is developing more than elite athletes – we’re building a culture,” said U.S. Biathlon National Team Athlete and Athlete Representative Chloe Levins. “One grounded in shared standards, mutual respect, and a relentless pursuit of excellence that unites us. It's not just about the podium; it’s about showing up for each other, believing in the process, and taking ownership of our roles in the team’s success.”


In Vuokatti, two questions were posed to the athletes: 

  1. What do you think are the qualities of a high performing environment?

  2. What is the frame of mind when you’re performing at your best? 


These questions sparked a productive discussion centered around defining the values, behaviors, and actions that would shape our desired culture. 


Seven months later in Lake Placid, the National Team, National Development Group, X Team, coaches, and staff revisited the foundational work from Vuokatti. The question was simple: Does this still resonate? The conclusion was yes. Two sessions in Lake Placid saw incredible engagement from all participants, generating several hundred ideas on how to make the values stick.


“In an individual sport like biathlon, it’s easy to think success comes down to a single athlete’s performance,” said U.S. Biathlon Director of High Performance Lowell Bailey. “But the reality is, every great result is built on the collective effort of the entire team – athletes, coaches, staff, and our broader community. The work we’ve done to define our values of respect, grit, and growth mindset is already showing up in our performances, and as we head into an Olympic season, that shared commitment will be one of our greatest strengths.”


"This ongoing work is delivering on the opportunities and recommendations identified in the Vestry Laight report: a strong, values-driven team environment is essential to both performance and athlete wellbeing," said U.S. Biathlon President & CEO Jack Gierhart. "Establishing a strong culture of excellence is a critical component of our organization and high performance program and will provide us a competitive advantage. Driven by our athletes, coaches, and staff, we are working to weave this culture and the values into the fabric of U.S. Biathlon and the community."


We are now focused on turning ideas into action by prioritizing initiatives that will be impactful in both the short term and long term. It does not end here. Our goal is for our culture of excellence to trickle down the pipeline, across programs, and throughout our entire community.