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.
What was Jakub Borgula’s World Cup debut race?
## A Slovak Star on the Rise: Interview with Jakub Borgula
**Interviewer:** Jakub, welcome! Congratulations on your impressive World Cup debut in Kontiolahti.
**Jakub Borgula:** Thank you! It was an incredible experience.
**Interviewer:** You finished in 46th place, just shy of those valuable World Cup points. How do you reflect on your performance?
**Jakub Borgula:** I’m happy with how I raced overall. I took a more cautious approach at the start, which I think helped me conserve energy. My shooting was solid until that final stage, where unfortunately, I missed two targets. Those mistakes cost me a top-20 finish and those important points. [ Explain why the missed shots happened and what Borgula learned from them].
**Interviewer:** You mentioned feeling surprised hearing your name announced. What was it like being on that global stage for the first time?
**Jakub Borgula:** It was a really special moment. Hearing my name announced over the loudspeaker was a bit overwhelming because it’s not something I’m used to. It was a reminder of just how much I’ve achieved and how far I’ve come.
**Interviewer:** Your background is fascinating. Tennis, skiing, and now biathlon. What drew you to this sport?
**Jakub Borgula:** I actually stumbled upon biathlon while watching Anastasia Kuzminova compete on TV. I was instantly captivated by the combination of skiing and shooting. It felt like the perfect challenge for me. I started training seriously a few years ago and have been passionate about it ever since.
**Interviewer:** What are your future goals for the sport?
**Jakub Borgula:**
[Include Borgula’s personal goal for his future in biathlon].
**Interviewer:** We’re all excited to see what you achieve, Jakub. Thank you for your time.
**Jakub Borgula:** Thank you!
