Ukraine's Junior Team Finishes Fourth in a Thrilling JWCH 2025 Girls' Biathlon Relay
After the final shooting stage, Ukraine was in second place, but failed to hold on to a medal.
Ukraine's junior biathlon team took fourth place in the girls' relay at the 2025 Junior World Championships in biathlon, held on March 4 in Östersund, Sweden.
Unlike classic relays, in which four athletes compete for each team, only three biathletes raced in the girls' relay at the 2025 Junior World Championships. Ukraine was represented by Iryna Shevchenko on the first leg, Polina Putsko on the second and Valeriia Sheihas on the third.
Notably, the day before, the national team claimed its first medal of JWCH 2025 in biathlon — Oleksandra Merkushyna took bronze in the junior women's mass start 60.
JWCH 2025 Biathlon Girls' Relay: How the Ukrainian Team Progressed Through the Race
- Iryna Shevchenko was the first to hit the course — wearing bib 11, which Ukraine earned based on the results of the last Junior Worlds in Otepää, Estonia. Clearing the prone stage in seven shots, the athlete left the range in third position. Using one spare round at the standing stage, the Ukrainian kept third place.
- Polina Putsko took over the relay in sixth — 46 seconds behind the leaders, Italy's team. With a flawless first shooting stage in 28.8 seconds, Polina moved up to fourth. The second range also went her way in 28 seconds, so Putsko moved up to third at the intermediate.
- Valeriia Sheihas lost 53.3 seconds to Germany at the exchange. On the first lap, the athlete fought for third position with Italy's Carlotta Gautero. After the prone stage, the two biathletes left the range together, and the Ukrainian kept third place.
- At the standing stage, second-placed Norway faltered, Italy cleared it in six shots, while the Ukrainian handled it quickly and cleanly — leaving in second place. On the final lap, though, the Ukrainian lost ground to the Norwegian and Italian athletes and, as a result, finished fourth.
Thus, Ukraine repeated its best result in the girls' relay of the junior world championships in biathlon over the last 11 years — fourth place. In 2023, the national team of Olena Horodna, Kseniia Prykhodko and Oleksandra Merkushyna posted an identical result.
Girls' Relay. Junior World Championships in Östersund: Results
- Germany (1+7) 1:03:24.2
- Norway (0+9) +20.8
- Italy (0+5) +37.3
- Ukraine (0+4) +51.4
Thus, three races remain on the program of the junior world championships in biathlon. The next one — the junior men's relay — starts on Tuesday, March 4, at 16:00.
Schedule of the remaining races of the junior world championships in biathlon
- Tuesday, March 4, 16:00 — Relay, junior men
- Wednesday, March 5, 10:30 — Relay, junior women
- Wednesday, March 5, 13:45 — Relay, junior men
Also watch the interview with Polina Putsko, an athlete of Ukraine's junior biathlon team, on the DeTalks YouTube channel.