Biathlon World Cup

IBU World Cup Biathlon
StatusActive
GenreSporting event
DateNorthern wintertime season
BeginsNovember
EndsMarch
FrequencyAnnual
CountryVarying
InauguratedJanuary 1978
Next event
2026-2027 Biathlon World Cup
AreaEurope, North America
Organised byInternational Biathlon Union
SponsorBMW[1]

The Biathlon World Cup is a top-level biathlon season-long competition series. It has been held since the winter seasons of 1977–78 for men and 1982–83 for women. The women's seasons until 1986–87 season were called the European Cup, although participation was not restricted to Europeans.

Competition and format

Overall Crystal Globes for the 2009/2010 and 2007/2008 seasons.

The World Cup season lasts from November or December to late March, with meetings in a different venue every week excluding some holidays and a couple of weeks before the season's major championships (World Championships or Winter Olympics). All in all, the season comprises nine to ten meetings, with events taking place from Wednesday–Thursday through Sunday. Relay competitions are held four to six times per season. Formerly counted as World Cup events were World Championships (the last Championship to count towards the World Cup were held in Pokljuka, Slovenia 2021) and Winter Olympics events (the last Olympics to count towards the World Cup were the 2010 Winter Olympics: from the 2014 Winter Olympics competitors are no longer awarded World Cup points for their Olympic performances).[2]

The athlete with the highest overall total score (i.e. total score for all disciplines) of the World Cup season is awarded the Big Crystal Globe trophy. A Small Crystal Globe trophy is awarded for the first place in the season total for each discipline. Hence, it is possible for an athlete to win both the Big Crystal Globe and Small Crystal Globes for the same World Cup season.[3]

The tables given below provide an overview of the highest-ranking biathletes and nations of each WC season. For sprint/individual/pursuit/mass start first place gives 90 points, 2nd place – 75 pts, 3rd place – 65 pts, 4th place – 55 pts, 5th place – 50 pts, 6th place – 45 pts, 7th – 41 pts, 8th – 37 points, 9th – 34 points, 10th – 31 points, then linearly decreasing by one point down to the 40th place. In Equal placings (ties) give an equal number of points. The mass start from 22nd to 30th has different way of points giving. The sum of all WC points of the season, less the points from an IBU-predetermined number of events (e.g. 2), gives the biathlete's total WC score.

From 1985 to 2000, WC points were awarded so that the first four places gave 30, 26, 24, and 22 points, respectively, and then the 5th to 25th place gave 21, 20, ..., down to 1 point. Before this, points were simply awarded linearly from 25 to 1.

As of February 2024, meetings have primarily been held in Europe and North America; the only other places to have hosted meetings that weren't the World Championships or the Winter Olympics, are Nagano, Japan in 1996–97, and Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2007–08 and 2016–17.

Overall winners

Individual total men

Individual total women

The women's World Cup seasons until 1986–87 were actually called the European Cup, although participation was open to biathletes of all nationalities. Until 1987–88, women raced on shorter tracks than they do today. The 1988–89 season was the first in which women raced on tracks of the same length that they do nowadays.

Individual total U25 / U23

The U25 and U23 classifications were introduced in the Biathlon World Cup to recognize the best young biathletes under the age of 25 and under the age of 23, respectively. The titles are awarded based on the total points accumulated in all individual competitions throughout the season. The U25 category was contested from the 2020–21 season until 2023–24, while the U23 category replaced it starting from the 2024–25 season. Below are the podium finishers for both men and women since the inception of the classifications, as well as medal tables by country.

Individual discipline titles

List of Biathlon World Cup winners of men's discipline titles, List of Biathlon World Cup winners of women's discipline titles

Men's titles

Season Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass Start
1988–89 Soviet Union Alexandr Popov Norway Eirik Kvalfoss no competition no competition
1989–90 Soviet Union Sergei Tchepikov Soviet Union Juri Kashkarov
1990–91 Germany Mark Kirchner Soviet Union Sergei Tchepikov
1991–92 Norway Jon Åge Tyldum Norway Sylfest Glimsdal
1992–93 Sweden Mikael Löfgren Germany Sven Fischer
1993–94 France Patrice Bailly-Salins Germany Sven Fischer
1994–95 Italy Patrick Favre Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen
1995–96 Russia Vladimir Drachev Russia Vladimir Drachev
1996–97 Germany Ricco Groß Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Russia Viktor Maigourov
1997–98 Norway Halvard Hanevold Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Germany Sven Fischer
1998–99 Russia Pavel Rostovtsev Germany Sven Fischer France Raphaël Poirée Germany Sven Fischer
1999–00 Germany Frank Luck Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen France Raphaël Poirée
2000–01 Russia Sergei Rozhkov Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen France Raphaël Poirée Germany Sven Fischer (2)
2001–02 Germany Frank Luck (2) Germany Sven Fischer (4) France Raphaël Poirée Russia Viktor Maigourov
2002–03 Norway Halvard Hanevold (2) Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen
2003–04 France Raphaël Poirée France Raphaël Poirée France Raphaël Poirée (4) France Raphaël Poirée
2004–05 Germany Michael Greis Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Germany Sven Fischer (2) France Raphaël Poirée (3)
Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen
2005–06 Germany Michael Greis Poland Tomasz Sikora Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen
2006–07 France Raphaël Poirée (2) Germany Michael Greis Russia Dmitry Yaroshenko Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen
2007–08 France Vincent Defrasne Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen (5)
2008–09 Germany Michael Greis (3) Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen (9) Norway Ole Einar Bjørndalen (5) Austria Dominik Landertinger
2009–10 Austria Christoph Sumann Norway Emil Hegle Svendsen France Martin Fourcade Austria Christoph Sumann
2010–11 Norway Emil Hegle Svendsen Norway Tarjei Bø Norway Tarjei Bø Norway Emil Hegle Svendsen
2011–12 France Simon Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade Germany Andreas Birnbacher
2012–13 France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade
2013–14 Norway Emil Hegle Svendsen France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade
2014–15 Ukraine Serhiy Semenov France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade Russia Anton Shipulin
2015–16 France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade
2016–17 France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade
2017–18 France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade France Martin Fourcade (8) France Martin Fourcade (5)
Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø
2018–19 Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø
2019–20 France Martin Fourcade (5) France Martin Fourcade (8) France Émilien Jacquelin Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø
2020–21 Norway Sturla Holm Lægreid Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø Norway Sturla Holm Lægreid Norway Tarjei Bø
2021–22 Norway Tarjei Bø France Quentin Fillon Maillet France Quentin Fillon Maillet Norway Sivert Guttorm Bakken
2022–23 Norway Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø Norway Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen
2023–24 Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø (3) Norway Tarjei Bø (2) Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø (3) Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø (3)
2024–25 Norway Sturla Holm Lægreid (2) Norway Johannes Thingnes Bø (4) Norway Sturla Holm Lægreid (2) Norway Sturla Holm Lægreid
2025–26 France Éric Perrot Norway Sturla Holm Lægreid France Éric Perrot France Éric Perrot

Women's titles

Season Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass Start
1988–89 Soviet Union Elena Golovina Soviet Union Elena Golovina no competition no competition
1989–90 Soviet Union Elena Golovina (2) Czechoslovakia Jiřina Adamičková
1990–91 Soviet Union Svetlana Davidova Germany Uschi Disl
1991–92 Commonwealth of Independent States Anfisa Reztsova Commonwealth of Independent States Anfisa Reztsova
1992–93 Russia Anfisa Reztsova (2) Russia Anfisa Reztsova (2)
1993–94 Italy Nathalie Santer Belarus Svetlana Paramygina
1994–95 Belarus Svetlana Paramygina France Anne Briand
1995–96 Slovenia Andreja Grašič France Emmanuelle Claret
1996–97 Germany Uschi Disl Germany Uschi Disl (2) Sweden Magdalena Forsberg
1997–98 Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Sweden Magdalena Forsberg
1998–99 Germany Uschi Disl (2) Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Ukraine Olena Zubrilova Ukraine Olena Zubrilova
1999–00 Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Russia Galina Koukleva
2000–01 Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Sweden Magdalena Forsberg Sweden Magdalena Forsberg
2001–02 Sweden Magdalena Forsberg (4) Sweden Magdalena Forsberg (5) Sweden Magdalena Forsberg (5) Sweden Magdalena Forsberg (2)
2002–03 Norway Linda Tjørhom France Sylvie Becaert Germany Martina Glagow Russia Albina Akhatova
2003–04 Russia Olga Pyleva Norway Liv Grete Poirée Norway Liv Grete Poirée Norway Liv Grete Poirée
2004–05 Russia Olga Pyleva (2) Germany Kati Wilhelm France Sandrine Bailly Russia Olga Zaitseva
2005–06 Russia Svetlana Ishmouratova Germany Kati Wilhelm (2) Germany Kati Wilhelm Germany Martina Glagow
2006–07 Germany Andrea Henkel Sweden Anna Carin Olofsson Germany Kati Wilhelm Germany Kati Wilhelm
2007–08 Germany Martina Glagow Germany Magdalena Neuner France Sandrine Bailly (2) Germany Magdalena Neuner
2008–09 Germany Magdalena Neuner Sweden Helena Jonsson Germany Kati Wilhelm (3) Sweden Helena Jonsson
2009–10 Sweden Anna Carin Zidek Germany Simone Hauswald Germany Magdalena Neuner Germany Magdalena Neuner (2)
2010–11 Sweden Helena Ekholm Germany Magdalena Neuner Finland Kaisa Mäkäräinen Belarus Darya Domracheva
2011–12 Sweden Helena Ekholm (2) Germany Magdalena Neuner (3) Belarus Darya Domracheva Belarus Darya Domracheva
2012–13 Norway Tora Berger Norway Tora Berger Norway Tora Berger Norway Tora Berger
2013–14 Czech Republic Gabriela Soukalová Finland Kaisa Mäkäräinen Finland Kaisa Mäkäräinen Belarus Darya Domracheva (3)
2014–15 Finland Kaisa Mäkäräinen Belarus Darya Domracheva Belarus Darya Domracheva (2) Germany Franziska Preuß
Finland Kaisa Mäkäräinen (3)
2015–16 Italy Dorothea Wierer Czech Republic Gabriela Soukalová Czech Republic Gabriela Soukalová Czech Republic Gabriela Soukalová
2016–17 Germany Laura Dahlmeier Czech Republic Gabriela Koukalová (2) Germany Laura Dahlmeier Czech Republic Gabriela Koukalová (2)
2017–18 Belarus Nadezhda Skardino Slovakia Anastasiya Kuzmina Slovakia Anastasiya Kuzmina Finland Kaisa Mäkäräinen
2018–19 Italy Lisa Vittozzi Slovakia Anastasiya Kuzmina (2) Italy Dorothea Wierer Sweden Hanna Öberg
2019–20 Sweden Hanna Öberg Germany Denise Herrmann Norway Tiril Eckhoff Italy Dorothea Wierer
2020–21 Austria Lisa Theresa Hauser Norway Tiril Eckhoff Norway Tiril Eckhoff (2) Norway Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold
Italy Dorothea Wierer (2)
2021–22 Czech Republic Markéta Davidová Norway Marte Olsbu Røiseland Norway Marte Olsbu Røiseland France Justine Braisaz-Bouchet
2022–23 Italy Lisa Vittozzi Germany Denise Herrmann-Wick (2) France Julia Simon France Julia Simon
2023–24 Italy Lisa Vittozzi (3) Norway Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold Italy Lisa Vittozzi France Lou Jeanmonnot
2024–25 France Lou Jeanmonnot Germany Franziska Preuß France Lou Jeanmonnot Germany Franziska Preuß (2)
2025–26 France Lou Jeanmonnot (2) France Lou Jeanmonnot France Lou Jeanmonnot (2) France Julia Simon (2)

Relay titles

Nations Cup

Race winners

Below is a list of all male and female biathletes that have won eight or more individual World Cup, World Championships or Olympic races. Biathletes whose names are highlighted in light blue are still active.[6]

  • Updated: 22 March 2026

Most wins & podiums in a season

Most wins in a season

Most podiums in a season

Most starts

List of top 15 most started all male and female biathletes in individual World Cup or Olympic races. Biathletes whose names are highlighted in light blue are still active.[7]

  • Updated: 22 March 2026

See also


References

  1. ^ "Infront, BMW Germany Renew Partnership For IBU, IBSF, FIL Events". Sports Business Journal. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ^ "World Cup Biathlon Victories: How Many for Ole?". International Biathlon Union. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  3. ^ Nordvall, Michael (2017). Two Skis and a Rifle: An Introduction to Biathlon. Michael P Nordvall.
  4. ^ "Records Men | Real Biathlon". RealBiathlon.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Records Women | Real Biathlon". RealBiathlon.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Men's Overall records". realbiathlon.com.
  7. ^ "Overall Records - real biathlon".