10/07/2026
Scenic summer training views with Baiba Bendika āļø
Biathlon Elite Latvia
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Biathlon Elite Latvia - winter warriors chasing medals and making history. š±š»āļø
10/07/2026
āBehind every great achievement is a team that believes, supports and helps you on the way to the goal.ā
Thank you for being part of the team! ā¤ļø
āāā
āAiz katra augsta sasnieguma ir komanda, kas tic, atbalsta un palÄ«dz ceÄ¼Ä uz mÄrÄ·i.ā
Paldies, ka esat daļa no komandas! ā¤ļø
10/07/2026
Our pick is precision. Philips OneBlade keeps the biathlon crew sharp and on point from summer training to winter race days.
Proud to have a partner that knows every detail counts.
āāā
MÄs izvÄlamies precizitÄti. Philips OneBlade palÄ«dz biatlona komandai bÅ«t gatavai ikvienÄ sezonÄ ā no vasaras treniÅiem lÄ«dz ziemas startiem.
Lepojamies, ka mÅ«su partneris novÄrtÄ to paÅ”u, ko mÄs ā katras detaļas nozÄ«mi.
08/05/2026
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On May 3, the Biathlon Team Latvia gathered at Kungu Rija for a special thank-you event dedicated to our partners and supporters. Managers, athletes, coaches, technical staff, and friends of the team came together in a warm and informal atmosphere to celebrate the past season and the people who made it possible.
The event was opened by host Toms Felkers, who entertained guests with a touch of magic and great energy throughout the afternoon. After speeches and conversations, the team expressed gratitude to everyone involved and presented small souvenirs as a token of appreciation for their support during the season.
It was a meaningful afternoon filled with conversations, appreciation, and shared moments captured in photographs - a wonderful way to reflect on the season together and look ahead to the future.
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3.maijÄ Biathlon Team Latvia pulcÄjÄs Kungu RijÄ, lai Ä«paÅ”Ä pateicÄ«bas pasÄkumÄ godinÄtu savus partnerus un atbalstÄ«tÄjus. Komandas menedžeris, sportisti, treneri, tehniskais personÄls un komandas draugi tikÄs sirsnÄ«gÄ un neformÄlÄ atmosfÄrÄ, lai kopÄ«gi atskatÄ«tos uz aizvadÄ«to sezonu un pateiktos cilvÄkiem, kuri palÄ«dzÄja to Ä«stenot.
PasÄkumu atklÄja Toms Felkers, kurÅ” viesus priecÄja ar nelieliem maÄ£ijas priekÅ”nesumiem un pozitÄ«vu enerÄ£iju visas pÄcpusdienas garumÄ. PÄc uzrunÄm un sarunÄm komandas vadÄ«ba pateicÄs ikvienam par ieguldÄ«jumu un pasniedza nelielas piemiÅas veltes kÄ pateicÄ«bu par atbalstu aizvadÄ«tajÄ sezonÄ.
SatikÅ”anÄs bija piepildÄ«ta un sirsnÄ«ga, ar kopÄ«gÄm sarunÄm, pateicÄ«bas vÄrdiem un fotogrÄfijÄs iemūžinÄtiem mirkļiem - lielisks veids, kÄ kopÄ atskatÄ«ties uz sezonu un ar iedvesmu raudzÄ«ties nÄkotnÄ.
Biathlon Team Latvia
26/04/2026
26/04/2026
This is wild! āļø
Keep an eye on Estere Volfa! š„ The young Latvian did not only surprise herself but the fans and she is crowned the Surprised of the World Cup season - congratulations š
šø: Yevenko/IBU
22/04/2026
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Mazo brīnumu turpinot gaidīt
Optimiste arÄ« grÅ«tÄkajos karjeras nogriežÅos, jo nerunÄs par plintes meÅ”anu krÅ«mos un slÄpju kÄrÅ”anu uz nagliÅas, ja arÄ« skats uz rezultÄtu tablo nebÅ«s patÄ«kams. Latvijas sievieÅ”u biatlona izlases ilggadÄjÄ lÄ«dere Baiba Bendika aizvadÄ«tÄs sezonas galvenajos startos priecÄja ar Ätrumu distancÄ, bet kļūdas Å”autuvÄ liedza iesaistÄ«ties cÄ«ÅÄ par vietu uz goda pjedestÄla.
Ā«Skaidrs, ka sezona nebija vienkÄrÅ”a, bet tajÄ paÅ”Ä laikÄ galvenajÄ startÄ izdevÄs visu paveikt salÄ«dzinoÅ”i labi. OlimpiÄdÄ biju super labÄ kondÄ«cijÄ, izdevÄs Å”auÅ”anu uzlabot, salÄ«dzinot ar vidÄjiem sezonas rÄdÄ«tÄjiem, lai gan gribÄjÄs jau, protams, vÄl labÄku. Sezonas griezumÄ vÄrtÄjot, Å”auÅ”ana bija slikta. Par spÄ«ti tam, ja nemaldos, divpadsmit reižu izcÄ«nÄ«ju Pasaules kausa ieskaites punktus, tÄ kÄ vienu daļu sezonas mazo uzdevumu izpildÄ«ju.Ā»
Bendika olimpiskajÄs spÄlÄs Antholcas trasÄ 15 kilometru klasikÄ ar Å”autuvÄ nopelnÄ«tajÄm ÄetrÄm soda minÅ«tÄm ieÅÄma 22. vietu. No uzvarÄtÄjas francÅ«zietes Žilijas Simonas, kurai Å”autuvÄ bija viena kļūda, Baiba atpalika trÄ«s minÅ«tes un 5,2 sekundes. PÄc sasniegtÄ rezultÄta distancÄ par Latvijas biatlonisti ÄtrÄka bija tikai sudraba medaļas ieguvÄja LÅ« Žanmono. 7,5 kilometru sprintÄ Bendika sasniedza 15. rezultÄtu ar noslÄpotiem diviem soda apļiem. DistancÄ Baibai bija sestais ÄtrÄkais solis. BÅ«tu augstÄka precizitÄte ugunslÄ«nijÄ, varbÅ«t atspÄ«dÄtu pat medaļu spožums. LÄ«dzÄ«gi gan var aizdomÄties daudzas elites lÄ«meÅa biatlonistes. Ā«Kad ir Ätrums distancÄ, tad jau zini, ka vari cÄ«nÄ«ties par medaļÄm un vairÄk paanalizÄ rezultÄtus, bet sportisti apzinÄs, ka katram ir savas stiprÄs un vÄjÄs puses. Vieni var labi saÅ”aut, bet otri nav tik Ätri distancÄ. Es pieÅemu to, ka Å”auÅ”ana ir mana vÄjÄ puse. Protams, ka mÄrÄ·is bija Å”auÅ”anu uzlabot. MÄs zinÄjÄm, ka es varu par top 10 un medaļÄm cÄ«nÄ«ties, bet, ko lai saka ā nesanÄca. No otras puses, apziÅa, ka mÄs bijÄm tam gatavi, kalpo kÄ pozitÄ«visma deva, ja skatÄmies nÄkotnÄ. Bija nÄcijas, kuras savukÄrt bija nokļūdÄ«juÅ”Äs ar sagatavoÅ”anÄs plÄna izstrÄdi. Mums Å”ajÄ ziÅÄ viss bija kÄrtÄ«bÄ. CerÄjÄm, ka vienÄs sacensÄ«bÄs mazais brÄ«nums notiks, bet tajÄ paÅ”Ä laikÄ es esmu pateicÄ«ga, ka izdevÄs sasniegt arÄ« Å”Ädus rezultÄtus. OlimpiÄde kopumÄ bija laba, nevis otrÄdi.Ā»
Pirms olimpiskÄs sezonas tika uzsÄkta sadarbÄ«ba ar Ukrainas speciÄlistu Vasilu MukÅ”inu, cerÄ«bÄ uz uzlabojumiem tieÅ”i ugunslÄ«nijÄ. Baiba uzskata, ka treniÅprocesÄ vairÄk vajadzÄja tuvinÄties sacensÄ«bu gaisotnei. Ā«ManuprÄt, pietrÅ«ka sacensÄ«bu risinÄjuma, tÄ vietÄ daudz strÄdÄjÄm pie tehniskajÄm niansÄm. JaunÄs meitenes Elza (Bleidele) un Estere (Volfa) ir salÄ«dzinoÅ”i labas Å”ÄvÄjas, jo Ä«paÅ”i Estere, tomÄr salÄ«dzinoÅ”i maz mÄs viena otru treniÅprocesÄ izmantojÄm. PÄrlieku daudz fokusÄjÄmies uz individuÄlo gatavÄ«bu. SacensÄ«bÄs viss notiek automÄtiski un bez domÄÅ”anas.Ā»
JaunÄs biatlonistes Volfa un Bleidele, kurÄm abÄm ir 21 gads, Å”osezon priecÄja ar augtsvÄrtÄ«giem rezultÄtiem. Volfa olimpiÄdÄ izcÄ«nÄ«ja 11. vietu 10 kilometru iedzÄ«Å”anas sacÄ«kstÄ un distancÄ bija nopietna konkurente Bendikai.
Ā«VasarÄ jau sajutu, ka ir interesantÄk strÄdÄt, jo nebiju vairs viÅÄm stipri priekÅ”Ä,Ā» atceras Bendika. Ā«TreniÅos daudz varÄjÄm darÄ«t kopÄ un lÄ«dzvÄrtÄ«gi. Bija reizes, kad vajadzÄja sakost zobus, lai izkonkurÄtu jaunÄs treniÅu partneres. DomÄju, ka Ŕī vasarÄ bÅ«s vÄl produktÄ«vÄka.Ā»
PÄc paÅ”reizÄjÄm aplÄsÄm IlmÄra BriÄa treniÅu grupa turpinÄs darbu ierastajÄ sastÄvÄ ar Baibu Bendiku, Esteri Volfu, Elzu Bleideli un MatÄ«su MeirÄnu. Ā«Mums paÅ”iem ir tÄds nodoms, bet attÄ«stÄ«bas scenÄriju Latvijas Biatlona federÄcijÄ un vÄl citas lietas ir grÅ«ti prognozÄt. KatrÄ ziÅÄ mums bija labs sparings un laba atmosfÄra, tÄpat arÄ« optimÄls sportistu skaits, lai treneriem bÅ«tu viegli strÄdÄt, pievÄrÅ”ot katram pietiekami lielu uzmanÄ«bu.Ā»
Skaidrs arÄ«, ka labÄs lietas nÄkotnÄ ir jÄsaglabÄ, savukÄrt vÄjÄko pozÄ«ciju uzlaboÅ”anai bÅ«tu jÄmeklÄ risinÄjums. Ā«JÄ, tÄ noteikti bÅ«tu Å”auÅ”ana, kura jÄuzlabo, bet ne tikai. VajadzÄs piestrÄdÄt arÄ« vairÄk pie mentÄlÄs gatavÄ«bas un pÄrliecÄ«bas nostiprinÄÅ”anas.Ā»
Bendika jau iepriekÅ” ir teikusi, ka nemet skatu tÄlu nÄkotnÄ. Uz priekÅ”u viÅa virzÄs no sezonas uz sezonu. JÅ«nijÄ Baiba pÄrkÄps 35 gadu slieksni, kas mÅ«sdienu profesionÄlajÄ sportÄ nebÅ«t nav galÄjÄ robeža, tomÄr lielÄku mÄrÄ·u sasniegÅ”anu vairs nevar nospraust garÄkÄ laika nogrieznÄ«. Ā«Viens ir mana paÅ”sajÅ«ta, bet vÄl ir gada daudz citu faktoru. Jau sacÄ«ju par federÄciju, tad vÄl svarÄ«gas bÅ«s finanses un Ä£imene, kas arÄ« ietekmÄs manu lÄmumu, lai varÄtu mierÄ«gi raudzÄ«ties nÄkotnÄ.Ā»
Jauno biatlonistu skaļie pieteikumi ar izcÄ«nÄ«tajÄm medaļÄm pasaules un Eiropas junioru ÄempionÄtos, kÄ arÄ« daudzsoloÅ”ie pieteikumi pieaugoÅ”o konkurencÄ visaugstÄkajÄ lÄ«menÄ«, biatlona nÄkotni LatvijÄ vairs neieskicÄ tik drÅ«mos toÅos, kÄ pirms diviem, trijiem vai Äetriem gadiem. Ā«PirmkÄrt, jau svarÄ«gi bÅ«s saglabÄt trenerus. Jo Ä«paÅ”i, meiteÅu komandÄ Å”osezon bija redzams, cik liela ir trenera (IlmÄra BriÄa) loma. JÄsaprot, ka panÄkumu pamatÄ ir milzÄ«gs darbs ilgu gadu garumÄ. SvarÄ«gi ir to visu saglabÄt, jo bez labas treniÅu sistÄmas, visu, ko esam ieguvuÅ”i, var Ätri pazaudÄt. Liela nozÄ«me ir tam, ka apkÄrt ir cilvÄki, kas saprot, ko nozÄ«mÄ augstu sasniegumu sports un kÄdus ieguldÄ«jumus tas prasa. Es pat gribu teikt, ka Å”osezon sasniegtie rezultÄti neatbilda atbalstam, ko saÅÄmÄm no Biatlona federÄcijas. Ceram uz jaunÄm vÄsmÄm, lai bÅ«tu patÄ«kamÄk gatavoties nÄkamajiem startiem un lai atbalsts bÅ«tu lielÄks.Ā»
PaÅ”reizÄjÄ Latvijas Biatlona federÄcijas vadÄ«ba tika ievÄlÄta 2022. gada 13. maijÄ uz Äetriem gadiem. Bendika cer, ka jaunÄs federÄcijas sastÄvs bÅ«s zinÄms pÄc iespÄjas ÄtrÄk. Ā«SkaidrÄ«ba ir nepiecieÅ”ama. Ja mÄs zaudÄjam trenerus, tad vasaras vidÅ« atrast aizstÄjÄjus bÅ«s gaužÄm sarežģīti. MaijÄ jau sÄksies pirmÄ nopietnÄ treniÅnometne.Ā»
Baiba Bendika individuÄlajÄs distancÄs Pasaules kausa sacensÄ«bÄs, pasaules ÄempionÄtÄ un olimpiskajÄs spÄlÄs vÄl nav izcÄ«nÄ«jusi vietu uz goda pjedestÄla. 2023. gadÄ Pasaules kausa posmÄ Nove Mesto kopÄ ar Andreju Rastorgujevu tika izcÄ«nÄ«ta bronza 1+1 jauktajÄ stafetÄ.
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Continuing to wait for small miracles
An optimist even during the toughest stretches of her career, she doesnāt talk about āthrowing in the towelā or āhanging up her skis,ā even when the scoreboard isnāt pleasing. Long-time leader of the Latvian womenās biathlon team, Baiba Bendika, impressed in the main events of the past season with her speed on the course, but mistakes at the shooting range prevented her from contending for a place on the podium.
āItās clear the season wasnāt easy, but at the same time, in the main event I managed to do everything relatively well. At the Olympics I was in excellent shape; I managed to improve my shooting compared to my average season results, although of course I wanted it to be even better. Looking at the season overall, the shooting was poor. Despite that, if Iām not mistaken, I scored World Cup points twelve times, so I did accomplish part of my smaller goals.ā
At the Olympic Games on the Antholz track, Bendika finished 22nd in the 15 km individual, with four penalty minutes from shooting. She was 3 minutes and 5.2 seconds behind the winner, French athlete Julia Simon, who had one shooting error. Based on course time, only silver medalist Lou Jeanmonnot was faster than the Latvian biathlete. In the 7.5 km sprint, Bendika placed 15th with two penalty loops. She had the sixth-fastest course time - greater accuracy at the shooting range might even have brought a medal. Many elite biathletes could say the same.
āWhen you have speed on the course, you know you can fight for medals and you analyze the results more, but athletes understand everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Some shoot well, others arenāt as fast on the track. I accept that shooting is my weak point. Of course, the goal was to improve it. We knew I could fight for a top 10 and medals, but it didnāt work out. On the other hand, knowing we were ready for it gives a dose of positivity looking ahead. There were nations that miscalculated their preparation plans - on that front we did everything right. We hoped for a small miracle in one race, but at the same time Iām grateful for the results achieved. Overall, the Olympics were good, not the opposite.ā
Before the Olympic season, cooperation began with Ukrainian specialist Vasyl Mukshyn, hoping to improve shooting. Bendika believes training should have more closely simulated competition conditions.
āIn my opinion, we lacked a competition-like approach; instead we worked a lot on technical details. The younger girls, Elza Bleidele and Estere Volfa, are relatively good shooters - especially Estere - but we didnāt use each other enough in training. We focused too much on individual preparation. In competitions everything happens automatically, without thinking.ā
The young biathletes Volfa and Bleidele, both 21, delivered strong results this season. Volfa placed 11th in the 10 km pursuit at the Olympics and was a serious rival to Bendika on the track.
āIn the summer I already felt it was more interesting to train, because I was no longer far ahead of them,ā Bendika recalls. āWe could train together and on equal terms. There were times I had to grit my teeth to outperform my younger training partners. I think this summer will be even more productive.ā
According to current plans, the training group led by IlmÄrs Bricis will continue in its usual lineup: Bendika, Volfa, Bleidele, and MatÄ«ss MeirÄns.
āThatās our intention, but itās hard to predict development scenarios within the Latvian Biathlon Federation and other factors. In any case, we had good sparring, a good atmosphere, and an optimal number of athletes so the coaches could give enough attention to everyone.ā
Itās clear that strengths must be preserved, while solutions must be found to improve weaker areas. āYes, that would definitely be shootingābut not only that. Weāll also need to work more on mental readiness and confidence.ā
Bendika has previously said she doesnāt look far into the future, instead moving season by season. In June she will turn 35 - no longer a strict limit in modern professional sports, but long-term goals are harder to set.
āOne thing is how I feel, but there are many other factors: the federation, finances, and family, all of which will influence my decision so I can look calmly toward the future.ā
The strong performances of young biathletes, including medals at World and European junior championships and promising results at the elite level, mean Latviaās biathlon future no longer looks as bleak as it did a few years ago.
āFirst of all, itās important to keep the coaches. Especially in the womenās team this season, we saw how big the coachās role is. Success is based on huge work over many years. Itās important to preserve that, because without a good training system, everything weāve gained can be lost quickly. It matters to have people around who understand high-performance sport and the investment it requires. Iād even say this seasonās results didnāt match the level of support we received from the Biathlon Federation. We hope for fresh changes, so preparation for future starts is more enjoyable and support is greater.ā
The current leadership of the Latvian Biathlon Federation was elected on May 13, 2022, for a four-year term. Bendika hopes the new composition will be known as soon as possible.
āClarity is necessary. If we lose coaches, finding replacements in mid-summer will be very difficult. The first serious training camp starts already in May.ā
Baiba Bendika has not yet reached a podium in individual events at the World Cup, World Championships, or Olympic Games. In 2023, at the World Cup stage in Nove Mesto, she won bronze in the single mixed relay together with Andrejs Rastorgujevs.
Autors/Author.
Biathlon Team Latvia
20/04/2026
Surprises are the best part about biathlon and now it is time to choose who was the Surpriser of the Season? š„ Four athletes who did amazing but which one is your choice?
Vote now - you have until Tuesday 18 CET! ā°
08/04/2026
Bleidele: PÄ medaļa kÄ antisprinterei un Ä£imeniskÄ konkurence ar Volfu "BiatlonÄ es negribÄtu bÅ«t skatÄ«tÄja. Kad pati esmu trasÄ, noteikti nav tik stresaini kÄ skatoties no malas," teica Bleidele
07/04/2026
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Medaļas un pÄrrakstÄ«ta vÄsture
VienkÄrÅ”i pÄrsteidzoÅ”a sezona! ā pasaules biatlona elitÄ daudzsoloÅ”i sevi pieteikusÄ« Estere Volfa neslÄpj, ka tik straujÅ” karjeras kÄpums vienas sezonas laikÄ arÄ« viÅai bijis pÄrsteigums. Ā«Pirms sezonas es necerÄju, ka Å”Äds varÄtu bÅ«t iznÄkums. SÄkot jau no Eiropas junioru ÄempionÄta un beidzot ar pasaules junioru ÄempionÄtu, izdevÄs izpildÄ«t visu, uz ko biju nomÄrÄ·Äjusi. Sezona izvÄrtÄs panÄkumiem bagÄta.Ā»
SacensÄ«bu lÄ«meÅi krasi atŔķirÄs, sÄkot no IBU junioru kausa posma sacensÄ«bÄm MadonÄ lÄ«dz konkurÄÅ”anai ar pasaules elites biatlonistÄm skatÄ«tÄju tÅ«kstoÅ”u ieskautajÄ olimpisko spÄļu trasÄ AntholcÄ. Uz vieniem svaru kausiem attiecÄ«gi arÄ« ir neiespÄjami izvÄrtÄt Esteres paveikto. OlimpiskajÄs spÄlÄs, finiÅ”Äjot 11. pozÄ«cijÄ iedzÄ«Å”anas sacÄ«kstÄ, Volfa sasniedza otru visu laiku augstÄko vietu Latvijas biatlona sievieÅ”u komandÄ aiz Madaras LÄ«dumas, kura 2006. gadÄ uzrÄdÄ«ja 10. rezultÄtu individuÄlajÄ distancÄ. Junioru maÄos sÄncenses nebija tik spÄcÄ«gas kÄ pieauguÅ”o lÄ«menÄ«, toties lielÄku spiedienu nÄcÄs izturÄt no malas, jo pÄc daudzsoloÅ”ajiem pieteikumiem uz biatlona lielÄs skatuves palikÅ”ana Ärpus trijnieka, konkurÄjot ar vienaudzÄm, jau tiktu uztverta kÄ neveiksme. Volfa nelika vilties. No Eiropas junioru ÄempionÄta Somijas pilsÄtÄ ImatrÄ mÄjup tika atvesta viena zelta un divas bronzas, no pasaules junioru ÄempionÄta ÄrberÄ (VÄcija) ā divas zelta un viena sudraba medaļa. Pirmo reizi Latvijas biatlona vÄsturÄ pasaules junioru ÄempionÄtÄ tika izcÄ«nÄ«tas godalgas.
PanÄkumu pamatÄ vispirms esot treniÅos ieguldÄ«tais darbs. Ā«ÄŖpaÅ”i es gribÄtu uzsvÄrt pÄdÄjo trÄ«s gadu sadarbÄ«bu ar treneri IlmÄru Brici. Darbs mums ir bijis ļoti augstÄ lÄ«menÄ«. PÄdÄjÄ gada laikÄ esmu pacÄlusies vienu lÄ«meni augstÄk, jo trenÄjos kopÄ ar Baibu Bendiku. IeÅemtÄs vietas sacensÄ«bÄs noteikti nav sagadÄ«Å”anÄs vai veiksmes faktors, jo patieÅ”Äm ir daudz strÄdÄts. Man paÅ”ai treniÅi vairs neŔķiet tik grÅ«ti, jo esmu jau pie Å”Äda režīma pieradusi ā tÄ ir mana ikdiena.Ā»
Volfa iepriecinÄja gan ar Ätru soli distancÄ, gan ar precizitÄti ugunslÄ«nijÄ. Å auÅ”anas tehniku jaunÄ biatloniste slÄ«pÄja ukraiÅu speciÄlista Vasila MukÅ”ina uzraudzÄ«bÄ. Ā«JÄ, pilnÄ«gi noteikti esmu gandarÄ«ta, ka progress nav tikai fiziskajÄ sagatavotÄ«bÄ, bet arÄ« Å”auÅ”anÄ. Paldies Å”auÅ”anas trenerim, ka salÄ«dzinoÅ”i Ä«sÄ laika periodÄ ir jau redzams rezultÄts. Å ajÄ ziÅÄ gan var teikt, ka ir nedaudz paveicies, jo Ätri uztvÄru trenera prasÄ«bas un ieguvu pÄrliecÄ«bu, kurai noteikti bija liela nozÄ«me rezultÄtu sasniegÅ”anai.Ā»
Estere neesot izjutusi stresu, startÄjot kopÄ ar pasaules labÄkajÄm biatlonistÄm. Ā«Pasaules kausÄ debitÄju pirms gada un olimpiskajÄs spÄlÄs jau ir tÄs paÅ”as konkurentes. VienÄ«gÄ atŔķirÄ«ba ir apkÄrtne ar olimpiskajiem riÅÄ·iem fonÄ un lielÄka uzmanÄ«ba no televÄ«zijas. GatavoÅ”anÄs man neatŔķiras, lai kÄdÄ lÄ«menÄ« arÄ« startÄtu. Es cenÅ”os sacensÄ«bas izbaudÄ«t. Å osezon to arÄ« darÄ«ju. IepriekÅ”Äjos gadus bija reizes, kad distancÄ domÄju tikai par to, lai finiÅ”Ätu.Ā» Junioru lÄ«menÄ« no Esteres gaidÄ«ja medaļas, tÄpÄc papildus spiedienu it kÄ vajadzÄja sajust. Ā«JÄ, es apzinÄjos, ka junioru sacensÄ«bÄs ir lielÄka atbildÄ«ba, bet man ir tÄ, ka Å”ÄdÄs reizÄs es kaut kÄ spÄju sevi pareizi noskaÅot. Man Ŕķiet, ka atbildÄ«bas sajÅ«ta man pat palÄ«dzÄja sasniegt labÄkus rezultÄtus.Ā»
PriecÄjoties par Latvijas biatlona jaunÄs paaudzes daudzsoloÅ”ajiem pieteikumiem, jÄatceras, ka Å”ajÄ vecumÄ svarÄ«gi ir nepÄrslogot sportistus ar startÄÅ”anu divu lÄ«meÅu sacensÄ«bÄs. Ā«ÄŖstenÄ«bÄ man bija par desmit startiem mazÄk, nekÄ aizpagÄjuÅ”ajÄ sezonÄ,Ā» Esteres sacÄ«tais nedaudz pÄrsteidza. SacensÄ«bu nozÄ«mÄ«gums savu zÄ«mogu gan esot atsÄjis. Ā«SajÅ«tu ziÅÄ bija lielÄks nogurums, bet tas vairÄk bija uz emocionÄlÄ fona. Es pat nevaru atbildÄt, kÄpÄc tÄ notika, jo parasti ir otrÄdi ā pÄc sliktiem startiem ir psiholoÄ£iski grÅ«ti, bet Å”oreiz emocionÄli vairÄk iztukÅ”ota sajutos olimpiskajÄs spÄlÄs.Ā»
VeselÄ«bas likstu dÄļ Estere atteicÄs no starta Pasaules kausa pÄdÄjÄ posmÄ Oslo pievÄrtÄ HolmenkollenÄ.
Ā«Pasaules junioru ÄempionÄtÄ veselÄ«ba jau bija, tÄ teikt, uz robežas. OtepÄ sapratu, ka uz pÄdÄjo posmu nedoÅ”os.Ā» Par spÄ«ti slimÄ«bas simptomiem, OtepÄ Volfa sasniedza karjeras rekordu Pasaules kausa sacensÄ«bÄs, ieÅemot 9. vietu 7,5 kilometru sprinta distancÄ.
Veikt pÄrmaiÅas labi funkcionÄjoÅ”Ä kolektÄ«vÄ nebÅ«tu prÄtÄ«gi, tÄpÄc pÄc paÅ”reizÄjÄm aprisÄm pÄcolimpiskajai ā 2026./2027. gada ā sezonai trenera IlmÄra BriÄa vadÄ«bÄ turpinÄs gatavoties ierastais sastÄvs ar Baibu Bendiku, Esteri Volfu, Elzu Bleideli un MatÄ«su MeirÄnu. Ā«Mums labi saskan. Man, Elzai un MatÄ«sam iegÅ«tais pasaules junioru Äempionu tituls stafetÄ kalpos kÄ papildus motivÄcija vasaras sagatavoÅ”anÄs posmÄ. ŽÄl, protams, ka Pasaules kausÄ individuÄlajÄs distancÄs bÅ«s tikai trÄ«s starta vietas, bet tas nozÄ«mÄ, ka iekÅ”ÄjÄ konkurence saglabÄsies. Å ajÄ ziÅÄ neko sliktu nesaskatu. SlimÄ«bu vai traumu gadÄ«jumÄ tukÅ”a vieta komandÄ nepaliek, jo ir aizstÄjÄjas, kuras var pieteikt startam Pasaules kausa sacensÄ«bÄs. Ir valstis, kurÄm Å”Ädu iespÄju nav.Ā»
PÄc sezonas beigÄm no biatlona ir iespÄja atvilkt elpu, taÄu nopietnÄk ir jÄparosÄs izglÄ«tÄ«bas lauciÅÄ. Volfa Latvijas UniversitÄtÄ studÄ biznesa vadÄ«bu. Sezonas laikÄ ir iekrÄjuÅ”ies parÄdi, kurus jÄdzÄÅ”, lai sekmÄ«gi beigtu 2. kursu. MaijÄ jau sÄksies gatavoÅ”anÄs nÄkamajai sezonai.
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Medals and History Rewritten
An simply incredible season! Estere Volfa, who has confidently announced herself in the world biathlon elite, admits that such a rapid rise within a single season was a surprise even to her.
āBefore the season, I didnāt expect this kind of outcome. Starting from the European Junior Championships and ending with the World Junior Championships, I managed to achieve everything I had aimed for. The season turned out to be very successful.ā
The competition levels varied greatly ā from the IBU Junior Cup stage in Madona to competing against the worldās elite biathletes on the Olympic track in Antholz, surrounded by thousands of spectators. Because of this, it is difficult to fully evaluate Estereās achievements on a single scale.
At the Olympic Games, finishing 11th in the pursuit, Volfa achieved the second-best result in the history of Latviaās womenās biathlon team, behind Madara LÄ«duma, who placed 10th in the individual race in 2006.
At the junior level, the competition may not have been as strong, but the pressure was higher ā after her strong debut, anything outside the top three would have been seen as a disappointment. Volfa delivered. From the European Junior Championships in Imatra (Finland), she brought home one gold and two bronze medals; from the World Junior Championships in Arber (Germany), two golds and one silver. For the first time in history, Latvia won medals at the World Junior Championships.
The foundation of this success lies in the work done during training.
āI would especially highlight the last three years working with coach IlmÄrs Bricis. The training has been at a very high level. Over the past year, Iāve stepped up another level by training together with Baiba Bendika. These results are not luck ā a lot of hard work has been done. Training no longer feels as difficult; Iāve adapted to this routine ā itās my everyday life.ā
Volfa impressed both with her speed on the track and her shooting accuracy. She refined her shooting technique under Ukrainian specialist Vasyl Mukhshin.
āIām very satisfied that my progress is not only physical but also in shooting. Thanks to my shooting coach, results are already visible in a relatively short time. In a way, I was lucky ā I quickly understood the coachās requirements and gained confidence, which played a big role in achieving results.ā
Estere did not feel stress competing among the worldās best.
āI made my World Cup debut a year ago, and at the Olympics itās the same competitors. The only difference is the atmosphere ā Olympic rings and more media attention. My preparation doesnāt change regardless of the level. I try to enjoy the races, and this season I really did. In previous years, sometimes I was just thinking about finishing.ā
At the junior level, expectations for medals added pressure.
āYes, I understood the responsibility was higher, but in those moments I manage to focus correctly. I think that sense of responsibility actually helped me achieve better results.ā
While celebrating the promising new generation of Latvian biathlon, itās important not to overload athletes with competitions at multiple levels.
āIn fact, I had ten fewer starts than the previous season,ā Volfa noted. However, the importance of competitions took its toll.
āI felt more fatigue, but it was more emotional. Usually itās the opposite ā poor results are mentally harder, but this time I felt more emotionally drained after the Olympic Games.ā
Due to health issues, Estere skipped the final World Cup stage in Oslo, Holmenkollen.
āAt the World Junior Championships, my health was already on the edge. In OtepƤƤ I realized I wouldnāt go to the final stage.ā
Despite illness, she achieved a career-best World Cup result in OtepƤƤ, finishing 9th in the 7.5 km sprint.
It is unlikely that major changes will be made to a well-functioning team. For the post-Olympic 2026/2027 season, the current lineup ā Baiba Bendika, Estere Volfa, Elza Bleidele, and MatÄ«ss MeirÄns ā will continue training under coach IlmÄrs Bricis.
āWe work well together. Winning the World Junior Championship relay title with Elza and MatÄ«ss will be extra motivation for summer training. Itās unfortunate that there will only be three ŃŃŠ°ŃŃ spots in individual World Cup races, but that means internal competition will remain strong. I see that as a positive. In case of illness or injury, we have substitutes ā not all countries have that advantage.ā
After the season, there is a chance to rest from biathlon, but more focus is needed on education. Volfa studies Business Management at the University of Latvia. During the season, she has accumulated coursework that needs to be completed to successfully finish her second year.
Preparation for the next season will begin in May.
Autors/Author.
Biathlon Team Latvia
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