Russia has picked a squad containing two Olympic medalists for the opening mixed relay Thursday at the World Biathlon Championships, head coach Valery Polkhovsky said Wednesday.
Double Olympic gold medalist Olga Zaitseva and Vancouver bronze medalist Anton Shipulin have been picked alongside Olga Vilukhina and Dmitry Malyshko, who both won medals at last year’s European championships.
“Currently, it’s the best possible squad. It’s based on the results of the entire current season and a two-week training camp,” Polkovsky said.
“In the women’s team, Olga Vilukhina and Olga Zaitseva are in the top 10 of the overall standings in the World Cup.
He added that Malyshko had performed well in helping Russia to a second place in the men’s relay at the World Cup round in Hochfilzen, Austria, in December, but that Shipulin would have the responsibility of racing the final leg Thursday.
“Anton Shipulin has also performed well this season. The coaching staff thought that we can trust him with racing in the final leg of the relay.”
The mixed relay is the newest biathlon event, and was only added to the world championship in 2005.
The event in Ruhpolding, Germany, runs through March 11.
