U.S. Mixed Relay Makes History, Bronze in Otepää

Making history for U.S. Biathlon, the mixed relay quartet of Maxime Germain (Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FRA/National Guard Biathlon), Campbell Wright (Wanaka, NZL/Waiorau Nordic Skiing), Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, WI/Army World Class Athlete Program), and Margie Freed (Apple Valley, MN/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) delivered a remarkable performance from start to finish to secure the first-ever World Cup mixed relay podium for the United States.

"I had a feeling years ago that my first podium was going to be a relay," said Irwin after the race. "We were close a couple of other times this year, so it was awesome to finally get it. I think the first ever mixed relay podium just shows how far our team has come over the years. We have worked really hard as a team to get to this point and it was a total team effort for the coaches, wax techs, and all the athletes!"

Sweden claimed the victory, while Switzerland surged ahead in the final meters to take second. The U.S. team crossed the line in third, just +34.6 back from the win. The Americans posted the third-fastest ski time of the day and one of the strongest shooting performances in the field, handling difficult wind conditions with composure. The quartet used just seven spare rounds across all eight stages and avoided the penalty loop entirely.

Germain opened the race with an impressive first leg. After using all three spare rounds in prone, he exited the range in 11th but quickly worked his way back into contention. With just one spare in standing and the third-fastest ski time on the leg, Germain powered into the lead by the first exchange.

Wright carried the momentum into the second leg, maintaining the team’s position at the front of the race. Using one spare in prone and two in standing, Wright briefly slipped to second after the prone stage but quickly reclaimed the lead and held it through the remainder of his leg.

Irwin delivered a standout third leg, skiing and shooting with calm confidence. She cleaned the prone stage and used just one spare in standing, preserving the American lead and tagging off to Freed in first place heading into the final leg.

Freed began her anchor leg under pressure, pursued by some of the sport’s top competitors, including Maren Kirkeeide of Norway and Elvira Oeberg of Sweden. Freed responded with a composed, clean prone stage, leaving the range alongside both challengers. Staying with the leaders throughout the second lap, she entered the final standing stage with a podium result within reach. Taking her time under pressure, Freed knocked down all five targets using her three spare rounds and headed out onto the final lap shoulder-to-shoulder with Switzerland’s Lena Haecki-Gross, who ultimately found another gear in the final straightaway to secure second place, but the U.S. held strong for bronze, an extraordinary achievement and the first World Cup mixed relay podium in American biathlon history.

Not only was this result the first podium for the U.S. in the discipline, but it also marked the first career podiums for Germain, Irwin, and Freed, and Wright's second World Cup podium, fourth career podium.