Kamila Żuk delivered a standout performance in the biathlon sprint at the Medolan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic Games on Saturday, February 14, 2026, finishing eighth and securing a strong starting position for Sunday’s pursuit race.
What place did Kamila Żuk take in the biathlon sprint?
Who was the first Polish woman to finish?
How many athletes represented Poland in biathlon?
Who won the challenging 7.5 km race?
Żuk navigated the 7.5km course with precision, incurring only one penalty in the prone position before shooting flawlessly in the standing stage. She briefly held the lead before ultimately finishing with a time of 21:50.1. The result sets her up well for contention in the pursuit race.
Anna Mąka was the first Polish athlete to cross the finish line, clocking in at 22:55.2. Natalia Sidorowicz and Joanna Jakieła also competed for Poland, finishing 41st and 28th respectively.
Despite a strong showing from Żuk, several biathletes with clean shooting records posted faster times. Franziska Preuss of Germany and Lou Jeanmonnot, the World Cup leader, both surpassed Żuk’s time. Sidorowicz, after a perfect prone stage, encountered difficulties in the standing stage with two penalties. Jakieła also had a solid start with a clean prone stage, but added two penalties in the standing stage.
Thrilling Battle for Gold at the Games!
The race for the gold medal was fiercely contested, with Oceane Michelon initially taking a commanding lead over Jeanmonnot. A surprise contender emerged in Milena Todorova of Bulgaria, who delivered a strong finish. However, it was Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide who claimed the top spot, overtaking Michelon in the final meters with a winning time of 20:40.8. Michelon finished just behind in 20:44.6, while Jeanmonnot rounded out the podium in 21:04.5.
Żuk’s eighth-place finish secures a favorable starting position for the pursuit race, marking a significant achievement for the Polish biathlete.
Final Results of the 7.5 km Biathlon Sprint:
- 1
Maren Kirkeeide (20:40.8)
- 2
Oceane Michelon (20:44.6)
- 3
Lou Jeanmonnot (21:04.5)
…
8. Kamila Żuk (21:50.1)
28. Joanna Jakieła (22:21.0)
41. Natalia Sidorowicz (22:50.8)
45. Anna Mąka (22:55.2)
