Two Norwegian teams claimed the top three spots at Skidskyttekampen on Stockholms stadion, with Swedish stars finishing fifth. During the event, Olympic bronze medals from 2010 were awarded to Swedish biathletes following a doping disqualification. An audience of over 7,000 spectators watched the entertaining show competition.
For the third year in a row, the public event Skidskyttekampen took place at Stockholms stadion on the evening of Monday, March 2, 2026. Despite the cold, over 7,000 spectators gathered to watch the fast singelmixedstafett. The Norwegian teams of Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen and Juni Arnekleiv won ahead of teammates Martin Uldal and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, with Finland's Tero Seppälä and Suvi Minkkinen taking third place.
The best Swedish team was Martin Ponsiluoma and Hanna Öberg in fifth place in the final. Sebastian Samuelsson and Elvira Öberg, as well as Jesper Nelin and Anna Magnusson, did not advance from the qualifiers. Individually, Austrian Tamara Steiner won the women's class ahead of Norwegian Maren Kirkeeide and Swedish Anna Magnusson. On the men's side, USA's Campbell Wright triumphed over Johannes Dale of Norway and Simon Eder of Austria, with Jesper Nelin as the best Swede in fourth.
Hanna Öberg commented: 'We definitely wanted more and had a very good position halfway through the final. But a few shots slipped at the end.' Martin Ponsiluoma added: 'It's a bit sour anyway.' Winner Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen told SVT: 'This is the best I know, winning ahead of the Swedes and winning here in Stockholm. It's on the same level as the Olympics.'
During the event, Swedish biathletes Fredrik Lindström, Carl Johan Bergman, Mattias Nilsson, and Björn Ferry received Olympic bronze from the 2010 Vancouver relay. The medals came after Russian Jevgenij Ustjugov was disqualified for doping, a process lasting nearly ten years. Mattias Nilsson, now national team coach, said: 'It was a bit "finally".' Björn Ferry emphasized anti-doping efforts: 'Now cheaters can never breathe easy.'
The victory earned the Norwegian team 15,000 euros. The biathlon World Cup resumes later this week in Kontiolax, Finland.
