Ponsiluoma Leads Sweden to Biathlon Gold in Milan Cortina 2026

Anterselva, Italy – Martin Ponsiluoma of Sweden secured the gold medal in the 12.5-kilometer pursuit biathlon race at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Sunday, February 15, 2026. This victory marks the first biathlon medal for Sweden at these Games, and comes after a challenging start to the Olympic competition for the Swedish team.

Race Recap

Emilien Jacquelin of France held the lead entering the final shooting stage, utilizing his signature rapid-fire technique. Still, two missed shots allowed Ponsiluoma, who hit all his targets, to accept the lead. Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid also cleared his targets and secured second place, pushing Jacquelin to bronze.

Ponsiluoma finished with a time of 31 minutes and 11.9 seconds, with Laegreid 20.6 seconds behind and Jacquelin 29.7 seconds back.

Previous Performances and Context

Quentin Fillon Maillet, the sprint race winner, began the pursuit 14 seconds ahead but struggled with three missed shots in the prone stages, finishing seventh, 1:13.5 behind Ponsiluoma. The pursuit start list is determined by the sprint race results, with racers starting in order based on their sprint finish times. Each missed target results in a 150-meter penalty lap.

Laegreid’s Personal Story

Sturla Holm Laegreid’s silver medal win came just six days after he publicly revealed a personal struggle during a post-race interview with Norwegian network NRK, confessing to infidelity in an attempt to reconcile with his partner. ESPN

Looking Ahead: Men’s Relay

The Swedish team, buoyed by Ponsiluoma’s gold, is now focused on the men’s relay. The team consists of Viktor Brandt, Jesper Nelin, Martin Ponsiluoma, and Sebastian Samuelsson. Conditions are expected to be challenging, with heavy snow and leisurely tracks. France and Norway are considered the favorites for gold. NBC Sports

Experts predict that the heavy snowfall could favor Ponsiluoma, who appears to be in top form. Magdalena Forsberg commented that he “will probably get better the heavier it is.”

Key Takeaways

• Martin Ponsiluoma won gold in the 12.5km pursuit biathlon, Sweden’s first biathlon medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
• Sturla Holm Laegreid of Norway won silver, and Emilien Jacquelin of France took bronze.
• The race was characterized by challenging shooting conditions and a tight competition.
• Sweden is now looking ahead to the men’s relay, hoping to continue their momentum.