I am interested in representing my fellow athletes through a position on the USBA Board of Directors for the remaining 2 years of Kelsey’s term. I think I will bring a new perspective on many issues, as I have been involved in USBA for a relatively short time, but have also benefited massively through the development pipeline set forth before me. Through my participation in international teams of every level in a relatively short amount of time I believe I can bring a diversity of experiences that provides a a valuable and beneficial addition to the USBA board.

- Vincent Bonacci

As a retired biathlete and current part-time coach with more than a decade of experience, I’ve had the privilege of seeing biathlon at its best and its worst. Some seasons were spent on the World Cup circuit; others were spent training in the dark, scraping by on donations, and hearing from coaches through the occasional email at best—not to mention every team position in between. That said, my goal as Athlete Representative is to bring that spectrum of understanding to the athletes and ensure their concerns are effectively voiced to the staff. US Biathlon can achieve great results and foster a positive environment when everyone’s voice is heard and opportunities are distributed fairly.

I started biathlon in 2001 and retired in 2018. During that time, I was named to two Olympic teams, represented the U.S. at several World Championships, and even scored a handful of World Cup points. Of course, I also finished 61st in multiple World Cup sprints, missed targets all over the place, and watched athlete support ebb and flow over the years. Since retirement, I’ve started part-time coaching, and I’ve been inspired by the motivation and potential of the current generation of athletes. I see the role of Athlete Representative as my chance to give back to the team and to help support this new wave of talent.

The voice and opinions of all athletes should play a meaningful role in how US Biathlon operates. If elected as Athlete Representative, I will work to ensure the broader perspective of the athlete community is heard. Biathlon is an incredible sport, and every athlete deserves to feel like an integral part of the whole.

-Russel Currier

Greetings Athletes,

For those of you who don’t know me my name is Leif Nordgren. I have been involved with USBA for quite some time now, first as a member of the Jr National Team from 2007-2010 followed by the Sr. National Team from 2011-2022. I competed in three Olympics and was a member of all the WC and WCH teams for that period. I retired in 2022 after starting a family and deciding it was my time to move on from the sport and make way for younger talent.

Over my career I have been very interested in the greater workings of USBA and how the decisions of the Board/staR aRect the ability of the athletes to be successful at the top level internationally. You the athletes have some extraordinary talent, the level of success that you’ve shown in the past two years since my retirement has reflected not only your hard work and dedication to the sport, but also the good judgement and decisions made by the Board. But there is always work to be done and improvements to be made in the way you are supported. Relationships and communication are so important, if elected I will happily advocate on your behalf to the Board and continue to grow and improve the level of support you receive. Being removed from the sport now for a few years I think gives me a good perspective on the sport, USBA, as well as some good things in hindsight that I wish could have been improved upon during my time as an athlete.

I look forward to having the opportunity to work with you all and continue the upward trajectory of USBA. Keep training hard and don’t hesitate to reach out with issues/concerns.

Respectfully,

Leif Nordgren