IBU Athlete Case Studies on Dual Career Opportunities
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is committed to creating opportunities for athletes to succeed both inside and outside the sport. Our goal is to empower athletes to pursue successful dual careers that combine their passion for biathlon with academic and professional careers. Through our Athlete Case Studies, we aim to inspire and guide our athletes towards fulfilling post-competition careers. To support athletes in this transition, National Federations can apply for the “Athletes' involvement after a sport career” project.
22 Mar, 2026
Maren Hammerschmidt is a former German biathlete. After ending her active sports career, Marens daily structure and priorities changed significantly. She moved from a very performance-driven lifestyle with clear routines and goals into a more flexible and self-directed environment. This transition required her to redefine her role and find new ways to stay motivated and challenged.
22 Mar, 2026
Oskar Brandt is a former Swedish biathlete who has transitioned into coaching following the end of his active career. While competing, Oskar experienced the structured lifestyle of elite sport, where training, recovery, and planning were central to daily life. After retiring, this routine changed significantly, offering both new challenges and freedoms, particularly the ability to travel without the constant focus on performance or the logistics of carrying a rifle (“holy cow it's nice 😉“).
22 Mar, 2026
Inese Golubeva from Latvia faced a turning point when circumstances led her away from pursuing a career as a biathlete. However, Inese's journey within biathlon did not end there. Her passion for the sport and desire to remain an integral part of the biathlon family led her to a new role that capitalized on her strengths and interests - organizing biathlon competitions in Latvia.
22 Mar, 2026
Marcin Szwajnos, a former Polish athlete, began his professional journey in the biathlon family as a seasonal employee of the Polish Biathlon Federation, where his first tasks were to organize competitions and assist the technical staff. After this, Marcin was given a more technical and specialized role. He mastered the operation of grinding machines and ski selectors, essential skills that marked his progression in the field. His expanded responsibilities now included full event preparation and management of athlete equipment.
22 Mar, 2026
Anika Kozika, a Croatian biathlete, completed her Master's degree in Analysis and Business Planning at the Faculty of Economics & Business in Zagreb while training and competing as an athlete. After completing her studies, she was hired by the Croatian Biathlon Federation to manage their social media activities.
