Young Slovak Biathlete Shows Promise in World Cup Debut
The opening 15km individual race of the World Cup season in Kontiolahti, Finland, saw a strong performance from Slovakian biathlete Jakub Borgula.
Unfazed by the global stage, Borgula raced strategically, placing himself among the top 40 skiers through the first three laps. He maintained composure and consistently landed his shots until the final shooting stage, where two missed targets dashed his hopes of clinching a top-20 position.
“I started a bit more cautiously in the beginning. I’d run faster, but I was being more relaxed. When I had three zeroes, I thought it was time to push a bit, because at the shooting range everything felt good,” Borgula explained, reflecting on his performance.
“when I then heard my name on the loudspeaker at that moment, because I am not used to it, it kind of surprised me, he added.
The young Slovak finished in 46th place, just 22 seconds shy of earning valuable World Cup points.
A Promise of Future Success
Despite the disappointment of missing points by a narrow margin, Borgula showed remarkable composure and tactical awareness beyond his years. This debut marks a promising start for the 20-year-old who has studied various sports including tennis before discovering his passion for biathlon.
Borgula only started focusing on skiing and biathlon seriously later in his career. It was a chance encounter with biathlon on television, watching Anastasia Kuzminova compete, that sparked his interest and ultimately led him to devote himself fully to the sport.
“When I got older, with a good team in a new club, more races and international competition, I fell in love with biathlon,” Borgula commented.
“Shooting has been a weakness for a long time.” he candidly wraps up a season, “Even last year at junior competitions, my performances were uneven on the shooting range, but I showed progress today.”
He had an exceptional season last season, leading the junior IBU Cup, highlighting the potential that He showed progress in Kontiolahti; he only missed two targets in the final shooting round, indicating that he is making strides in addressing his shooting weaknesses.
While other Slovakian biathlete Tomáš Sklenárik placed 69th place, Borgula’s performance stood out as a testament to his talent and dedication. He is a star on the rise and one to watch in the future
Norwegian Dominance Continues
The men’s race mirrored the dominance of the Norwegian team, with three men finishing among the top four. Endre Strömsheim, an up-and-coming biathlon star, claimed a decisive win in the shortened 15km sprint event. This victory marks the second individual World Cup win for Strömsheim.
He arrived at the World Cup later than expected because of strong competition in Norway, and first raced in the world cup just last year. He propelled himself into the top tier of the sport quickly.
Previous World Cup successes were not encountered, so the competition to the podium was solely among the athletes
Strömsheim was challenged by his teammates Johannes Thingnes Bö who placed second with only one missed target. Sturla Holm Laegreid followed his teammate close behind in third place.
Despite missing two targets, Borgula showed promise, with a strong performance.
How has Jakub Borgula’s performance in the World Cup inspired him for future races?
## A Bright Future for Slovak Biathlon?
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re joined by 20-year-old biathlon rising star Jakub Borgula, fresh off his impressive debut in the World Cup. Jakub, congratulations on your performance in Kontiolahti!
**Jakub:** Thank you! I’m really happy with how the race went, especially for my first World Cup.
**Host:** You weren’t intimidated by the big stage. You were right there with the top skiers for much of the race. Tell us a bit about your strategy going in.
**Jakub:** I started a little cautiously. I wanted to be smart and save some energy for the later parts of the race. After three clean shooting stages, I felt good and decided to push a bit harder. [[1](https://www.olympic.sk/jot/2023/jakub-borgula)]
**Host:** And it would have paid off if not for those last two missed shots. How did you feel when you heard your name announced over the loudspeakers?
**Jakub:** To be honest, it was a little surprising! I’m not used to that kind of attention, but it was really motivating.
**Host:** You finished just 22 seconds outside of the points. What are you taking away from this experience?
**Jakub:** It’s definitely a learning experience. I know what I need to work on, especially when it comes to staying focused in the final shooting stages. But I’m very happy with my performance and eager for the next race.
**Host:** Your biathlon journey is quite unique!
**Jakub:** True! I actually tried many sports growing up – tennis, football, swimming… I just couldn’t find something I was truly passionate about. Then, I saw Anastasia Kuzminova competing on TV and became hooked on biathlon. [[1](https://www.olympic.sk/jot/2023/jakub-borgula)]
**Host:** And now you’re following in her footsteps, representing Slovakia on the world stage! What are your goals for the future?
**Jakub:** I want to keep improving and competing at the highest level. Making the Olympics is a big dream of mine.
**Host:** Well, judging by this debut, you’re definitely on the right track. Thank you for joining us today, Jakub. We wish you all the best in your biathlon career.
