Alina Stremous feels more and more confident on the main biathlon stage. In the sprint at the third stage of the World Cup in Annecy, France, the Moldovan biathlete took 16th place – the best result this season.

Most recently, the former Russian woman stood on the podium in the IBU Cup races. An excellent start to the season from the former Russian athlete.

Clean shooting and impressive results

In the sprint race in France, Stremous worked flawlessly on both shooting ranges and was 1 minute 5.5 seconds behind the winner. 16th place was her best result of the season at the World Cup and a logical continuation of gradual progress.

The race turned out differently for the Moldavian team. Alena Makarova, who also moved to the Moldavian team from Russia, finished only 100th, having made three mistakes. This is the penultimate result among all participants.

Alina Stremous / Photo: © Kevin Voigt / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Even at the previous stage of the World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria, Stremous showed that she could compete with the leaders. In the 10 km pursuit race, she took 18th place, completing the distance in 30 minutes 7.5 seconds and demonstrating her trademark precision at the boundaries. In the 7.5 km sprint within the same stage, the Moldovan biathlete finished 25th. At the same time, Stromous missed the first stage of the World Cup in Östersund, so she is gaining shape as the season progresses.

Stromous has already won medals this season

Alina also managed to compete in the races of the second most important world biathlon competition. At the first stage of the IBU Cup in Obertilliach, Stromous won silver in the 7.5 km sprint. She came second among 125 participants. Perfect shooting was again key.

In the second sprint race, Alina finished 19th with two penalties, and in the pursuit race she took 13th place, making five mistakes on four stages. At the end of the stage, she was sixth in the IBU Cup rankings, gaining 125 points.

Alina Stremous / Photo: © Jasmin Walter / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

The 30-year-old athlete is gradually accustoming biathlon fans to her surname at the top of the protocol. Her progress deserves special attention in connection with the upcoming Olympics. With perfect shooting and a successful set of circumstances, Stremous is capable of at least finishing in the top 10 in one of the races. And a medal, say, in an individual race no longer seems incredible.

Alina Stremous was born in Russia, but since 2020 she has represented Moldova. She already has experience of performing at the highest level: last season at the World Cup in Kontiolahti, the biathlete took 15th place in the sprint – this is her best result in the elite. Stremous also has the titles of European champion and vice-champion.

To Alina’s credit, it should be noted that the girl changed her sports citizenship without scandals or anti-Russian statements. She was unable to win the competition in the Russian national team, and the then biathlon leaders did not interfere with her transition. Stremous’ level of results is far from multiple Olympic champion Anastasia Kuzmina, and she cannot be called a world biathlon superstar. But Alina’s dedication to the sport and gradual progress force her to treat her successes with respect and sympathy.

Press Secretary of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Christian Winkler confirmed to Match TV that the organization does not agree to consider the claim of the Russian Biathlon Union (SBR) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the inadmissibility of Russian athletes to international competitions under an accelerated procedure.

Earlier, presenter and commentator Dmitry Guberniev on Match TV reported that the IBU refused the accelerated procedure for considering a claim (SBR) in CAS regarding the admission of Russians to international tournaments.

— Indeed, the IBU did not agree to an accelerated procedure for considering the arbitration claim.

Regarding youth competitions, the IBU has taken note of the recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Committee and will review it. As the IOC has made clear, the application of these recommendations depends on the regulations of each international federation.

Thus, at the moment, the position of the IBU, for which the IBU Congress voted democratically, remains in force,” Winkler told Match TV.

On December 11, the IOC announced that the organization’s executive committee recommended that international federations not limit the access of athletes from Russia and Belarus to youth competitions in both individual and team disciplines. In addition, Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete at tournaments under national symbols, with the flag and anthem.

Olympic silver medalist Irina Kazakevich won the sprint race at the third stage of the Alfa-Bank Commonwealth Biathlon Cup in Tchaikovsky (Perm Territory).

Kazakevich covered the 7.5 km distance in 21 minutes 40.5 seconds, without making a single mistake at two shooting ranges. Inna Tereshchenko was second (0 misses, lag – 9.7 seconds), the top three was closed by Kristina Reztsova (1 miss, +10 seconds).

Pursuit races will take place on Saturday at the Alfa-Bank Commonwealth Cup stage. Men start at 9:00 Moscow time, women at 11:00.

Watch the live broadcast of the competition on the Match TV and Match Planet TV channels, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.