Canada's Mira von Kunes is one of the perennial participants of the Masters. Photo: Piia Kinnunen

18.03.2022

Unofficial World Championships for veterans: Including e.g. Australian athlete in the over-80 category

The athletes of Kontiolahti

The veterans' unofficial Biathlon World Championships bring more than 110 athletes to Kontiolahti. International Masters competitions have participants from 13 countries. The oldest of them are over 80 years old.

The unofficial World Biathlon Championships of the Masters category, i.e. for over 35-year-olds, will be held this week in Kontiolahti, North Karelia.

More than 110 athletes from 13 different countries have signed up.

—Most of the participants are from Europe. Athletes from Australia, Canada and the USA are the most long-distance runners, says general secretary Jarno Lautamatti of the Kontiolahti Athletes' Association, which organizes the event.

—The age presidents are the four athletes from Australia and Finland participating in the over 80 series, Lautamatti says.

The two-year hiatus ends

The event has been organized in Kontiolahti since 1997. In 2020 and 2021, the event had to be canceled because of the corona virus.

—Over the course of more than 25 years, the event has developed into the main international event of the season for many biathlon enthusiasts over 35, Lautamatti says.

He considers this spring's competition a good start and a return to normality.

— I hope we can build the 2023 event from the very beginning without the shadow of the corona. This would give even more people the opportunity to participate.

INFO: Biathlon International Masters competitions in Kontiolahti

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