At the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina 2026, Norwegian biathlete Johan-Olav Botn excelled in the 20 km race, securing a gold medal with a flawless performance, completing the race without any misses. Botn's remarkable achievement highlights his skill and precision in a field that included 89 competitors. The silver medal went to French athlete Eric Perrot, who, despite one penalty minute, finished strong just 14.8 seconds behind Botn. Another Norwegian, Sturla Holm Laegreid, rounded out the podium with the bronze medal.

In contrast, Croatian biathletes had a challenging day. Matija Legović, a 20-year-old Olympic debutant, finished in 72nd place with six missed targets, while Krešimir Crnković placed 76th with four misses. Despite their struggles in this highly competitive event, both athletes have another chance to showcase their abilities in the upcoming 10 km sprint race at the Olympics, where they hope to improve their standings.

The performances at this event reflect the depth of talent in international biathlon and highlight the challenges faced by emerging athletes like Legović and Crnković. As they continue their Olympic journey, the experience gained will be invaluable for their future competitions and personal development in the sport of biathlon.