Dale-Skjevdal Wins Gold in Thrilling Biathlon Mass Start

Dale-Skjevdal dominates biathlon mass start

Norway's Johannes Dale-Skjevdal wins men's biathlon 15km mass start at Winter Olympics with perfect 20-for-20 shooting. Laegreid, and Fillon Maillet stand on the podium after thrilling biathlon finish.

Heavy snowfall and unpredictable wind made conditions tough, but Norway's veterans shone...

Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway achieved a flawless 20-for-20 on the shooting range, clinching victory in the men's biathlon 15km mass start at the Winter Games on Friday. This win marked Norway's 17th gold medal, breaking their own record set at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Dale-Skjevdal's gold medal pushed Norway past its previous record of 16 gold medals, solidifying their position as the nation with the most gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. Teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid took silver, 10.5 seconds behind, while Quentin Fillon Maillet of France secured bronze.

Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway took home the gold medal in the men's biathlon 15km mass start at the Winter Olympics, thanks to his flawless 20-for-20 shooting performance. His compatriot Sturla Holm Laegreid secured silver, 10.5 seconds behind, while Quentin Fillon Maillet of France claimed bronze after overtaking Germany's Philipp Horn on the final lap.

Dale-Skjevdal, 28, was beaming with pride after becoming the Olympic champion, saying, “There are a lot of feelings. Olympic champion. Damn, it's sick, it's a dream... I have no words,” to Norwegian TV. His perfect shooting game was the deciding factor, making him the only biathlete in the 30-man field to hit every target.

The men's biathlon 15km mass start at the Winter Olympics was an intense competition, with 30 biathletes facing five laps of the three-kilometre course. The athletes shot twice from the prone position and twice standing, with each miss costing them a trip around the 150-metre penalty loop. Emilien Jacquelin of France and Tommaso Giacomel of Italy initially led the pack, but both struggled before the third shoot, with Giacomel ultimately withdrawing due to side pain.

Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway seized the opportunity, hitting all 20 targets on the shooting range to claim gold. His compatriot Sturla Holm Laegreid took silver, 10.5 seconds behind, while Quentin Fillon Maillet of France secured bronze.

Heavy snowfall and unpredictable wind made for a tough race, but Norway's experience shone through as they took control, with Dale-Skjevdal leading the charge.

30 biathletes battled it out on the three-kilometre course, facing five laps with shooting challenges. They shot twice prone and twice standing, with each miss sending them on a 150-metre penalty loop detour.

First Games, first Olympic gold!

After three top-10 finishes, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal claims his first Olympic gold 🥇 with a flawless performance.

📷NordicFocus #Olympics #biathlon pic.twitter.com/MNX569DCHO

— International Biathlon Union (@biathlonworld) February 20, 2026

Emilien Jacquelin of France and Tommaso Giacomel of Italy initially led, but both faltered before the third shoot. Giacomel even quit due to side pain, paving the way for Norway's experienced team to take control.

Heavy snowfall and unpredictable wind made conditions tough, but Norway's veterans shone, gradually dominating the race. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal's flawless shooting secured gold, with Sturla Holm Laegreid taking silver and Quentin Fillon Maillet claiming bronze.

Norway's Johannes Dale-Skjevdal (Gold), Sturla Holm Laegreid (Silver), and Quentin Fillon Maillet of France (Bronze) pose after the men's biathlon 15km mass start

Dale-Skjevdal's Perfect Shot Secures Lead

The blustery wind caused chaos at the third shoot, but Dale-Skjevdal nailed another perfect series, taking the lead over Laegreid. Horn was third, with Fillon Maillet hot on his heels.

Fillon Maillet Snatches Bronze

Dale-Skjevdal's fourth perfect series secured gold, and Laegreid settled into silver. Fillon Maillet made his move with 1.2 km left, surging past Horn on the downhill stretch to grab bronze.