Croatian biathlete Matija Legović secured a spot in the pursuit race at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite a 59th place finish, while teammate Krešimir Crnković faced disappointment with an 89th place result.
Matija Legović, a 20-year-old Croatian biathlete, achieved a notable 59th position in the sprint race, which qualified him for the pursuit event at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina 2026. Despite this accomplishment, Legović expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, highlighting the challenges posed by the altitude on the race course. He acknowledged that he could have performed better, emphasizing his potential to improve based on previous experiences.
Legović's two shooting misses, one in each round, played a role in his overall ranking, but he was relieved to have advanced to the pursuit. He reflected on his performance compared to last year’s World Championship, where he had a better finish with similar shooting issues. This year, he feels he did not ski as well and believes that with improved shooting accuracy and skiing technique, he could achieve a top 30 finish in future races. Such aspirations indicate his ambition to refine his skills and perform better in upcoming competitions.
On the other hand, Krešimir Crnković experienced another disappointment, finishing in 89th place. His struggles with skiing have become a recurring theme, contrasting Legović’s aspirations for future success. The differing outcomes between the two athletes underscore the varying levels of progress and challenges faced in competitive biathlon, as Legović looks forward to further races and the pursuit event ahead.
