Top Youth and Junior Athletes to Race in Trials at Mt. Itasca

The 2023 youth and junior trials will take place December 27-31 at Mt. Itasca in Minnesota. The three-day event will determine the rosters for three different teams: Youth Olympic Games, IBU Junior Cup and Junior Open European Championships and the Youth/Junior World Championships. 

“We have over 70 athletes currently registered to compete in Mt. Itasca, making this our biggest Youth/Junior trials event ever,” said U.S. Biathlon Director of Athlete Development Tim Burke. “It’s great to see this event continue to grow and I look forward to watching our best up-and-coming athletes vie for international team spots. Whether athletes make teams or not in Mt. Itasca, I’m sure they will all leave motivated and ready for more in the years to come!” 

Youth and junior trials will feature two sprint races and one pursuit race. Athletes will have the opportunity to be named to more than one team if they fit the qualification standards. Of the three races, two will count towards qualifying for one, or more, of the three teams. 

The fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games will take place January 19 - February 1, 2024 in the Gangwon province in the cities of Pyeongchang and Gangueng in the Republic of Korea. Three women and three men will be named to the U.S. Biathlon team and will compete at the Biathlon Centre in an individual, sprint, mixed relay and single mixed relay over the two week event. Mirroring the Olympic Winter Games, the Winter Youth Olympic Games takes place every four years, bringing together the top athletes ages 15-18 from around the world. The Youth Olympic Games is the largest international racing opportunity for young athletes. 

IBU Junior Cup boasts international racing for junior athletes as they work to climb the ranks to IBU Cup, then to World Cup level. Up to five female and five male U.S. athletes will join the mix after the new year to race two weekends in Jakuszyce, Poland. The first week of racing will be for the IBU Junior Cup and the second week for the IBU Junior Open European Championships. 

The 2024 IBU Youth and Junior World Championships will be held in Otepää, Estonia from February 23 - March 2, 2024 at the Tehvandi Sports Center. Up to eight women and eight men will be named to the team set to compete in the second Youth and Junior World Championships held in Estonia. Over the eight-day period, athletes will compete in an individual, sprint, mass start, mixed relay, and a pair of men’s and women’s relays.

Following the trials at Mt. Itasca, team rosters for Youth Olympic Games, Junior IBU Cup/Junior Open European Championships and Youth/Junior World Championships will be announced on January 1, 2024.