Campbell Wright Earns Silver Medal at World Championships

Campbell Wright (Wanaka, NZL/Waiorau Nordic Skiing) made history in Lenzerheide, SUI as the first U.S. male to medal in a World Championships sprint event. A perfect 10 for 10 and ninth fastest overall ski time, Wright bested 96 of 97 sprint competitors to see his first-ever World Championships podium. 

Crossing the line just 28 seconds behind the World Cup overall leader Johannes Thinges Boe of Norway, Wright took the second stand with France’s Quentin Fillon-Maillet completing the podium in third. 

“Coming into the day I just had all the confidence that I could ski with the top guys,” said Wright in an interview with SVT. “I skied with Ponsiluoma that second loop and felt pretty in control to be honest. I just figured, I really gotta hit the targets on standing. I managed to do it and honestly I have no words.” 

Teammate Maxime Germain (Chamonix-Mont Blanc, FRA) also hit a World Championship personal best with his 12th place finish. Germain also cleaned his targets, posting a 22nd ski time to set himself up nicely for the pursuit, just +1:08 back from the leading Boe. 

Sean Doherty (Conway, NH/Army World Class Athlete Program), with a 45th overall ski time, raced to 41st, missing just one target in prone and cleaning his standing shoot. Paul Schommer (Appleton, WI/Team Birkie/Ariens Nordic Center) placed all four U.S. men in the top 60 with his 56th place finish, despite three misses on the day. This was Schommer’s first World Championship start since 2023 in Oberhof, GER. 

Tomorrow, February 16, the U.S. will see six athletes toe the line in both the women’s and men’s pursuits. Chloe Levins (Williston, VT/Unaffiliated) and Lucinda Anderson (Golden Valley, MN/Team Birkie) will kick things off in the women’s 10km pursuit at 6:05 EST/12:05 CET, followed by Wright, Germain, Doherty, and Schommer racing the men’s 12.5km pursuit at 9:05 EST/15:05 CET. Racing will be livestreamed on Eurovision Sport.