Webinar on Olympic Preparation

On 12 June 2025, the IBU Academy hosted an international webinar titled “Preparation for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026”, attracting 400 registrants and up to 220 live online participants. The audience included coaches, athletes, and staff from around the world, all eager to deepen their knowledge on preparing for this pinnacle event in the biathlon calendar.

Expert Presentations

The webinar featured three highly respected international speakers who shared cutting-edge strategies and scientific insights:

• Iñigo Mujika (Spain) delivered a detailed presentation on tapering strategies to optimize performance before a major competition.

• Jonas Forot (France) discussed load management and monitoring of high-altitude training, highlighting approaches to maximize adaptation while minimizing risks.

• Tobias Christensson (Sweden) explored nutrition strategies for major events, offering practical recommendations to support performance and recovery.

These sessions provided attendees with evidence-based methods and real-world examples, ensuring practical takeaways for training plans ahead of Milano Cortina 2026.

Panel Discussion with High-Level Coaches

The webinar concluded with a lively and insightful panel discussion featuring five experienced coaches who shared their perspectives on preparing athletes for the Olympic Games:

• Armin Auchenthaller (NF USA)

• Erik Kulstad (NF FIN)

• Jonne Kähkönen (NF ITA)

• Johannes Lukas (NF SWE)

Their exchange covered planning, athlete management, and the specific challenges of preparing for the biathlon competitions in Antholz, the Olympic venue for 2026.

“The webinar gave a lot of insights on how to prepare for a major event like the Olympic Winter Games 2026 where the biathlon events will be held in Antholz,” said Gerold Sattlecker, Head of the IBU Academy.

Stay tuned for the next webinar on 16 July 2025 with the topic "Kids´ Training: Key Principles for Success".

Please find all past webinar recordings on our e-learning platform, Learning Suite, here: LINK.