The sprint event in Antholz marks the second individual competition for women in biathlon at these Olympic Games. In the classic event held on Wednesday, France's Julia Simon won the gold medal, while Latvia's Baiba Bendika performed well, finishing 22nd, which is the highest placement among the Latvian athletes in the sprint. Bendika achieved one of the best skiing speeds in her race, indicating strong potential for future events.

In the upcoming sprint, each athlete will face two shooting rounds, and the stakes are high with 91 biathletes participating, of which only the top 60 will qualify for the pursuit competition scheduled for Sunday. Among the Latvian competitors, Annija Keita Sabule, Esteri Wolfa, Baiba Bendika, and Sanita Buliņa will be racing, each assigned different starting numbers that indicate their positions in the race.

Previously, the men's sprint occurred and saw Latvian athlete Andrejs Rastorgujevs place the highest among his teammates at 30th. Rihards Lozbers also qualified for the pursuit with a 32nd place finish, while Edgars Mise landed at 52nd, leaving Renārs Birkentāls outside the qualification at 76th. This buildup of events highlights the competitive nature and stakes involved as the athletes strive to qualify for further Olympic events.