Saveliy Konovalov is rightly considered one of the main talents in Russian biathlon. But the young athlete is already ready to defeat his childhood idols.

The 21-year-old backed up his bold claims with a stunning victory. Unexpected champion of Russia!

“We must already take a leading position”

For the first time, Konovalov, who has repeatedly won various junior competitions in Russia, loudly declared himself at the adult level back in 2024, when, as a member of the Sverdlovsk region team, he won two medals in relay races as part of the Spartakiad. At the same time, the titled biathlete Anton Shipulin predicted a good future for Savely.

— There is good potential, the technique looks good. But there is room to grow. I think these guys will join the national team,” Match TV quotes Shipulin as saying.

Saveliy did not have to wait long for prizes in personal races. A year later, the biathlete was on the podium in the sprint at the Alfa-Bank Cup of the Strongest Athletes, which took place in Raubichi.

Before the start of this season, Konovalov was deservedly included in the national team. Now the athlete is confidently in the top 10 overall standings of the Russian Cup and the Commonwealth Cup. A successful career lacked only high-profile victories, although the athlete strived for this.

“We need to take a leading position and fight,” Konovalov said in December 2025 on Match TV after winning a bronze medal in the mixed relay at the Commonwealth Cup stage.

Saveliy Konovalov / Photo: © SBR

“He will be a star biathlete”

On January 11, Savely went to the start of the big mass start of the Alfa-Bank Russian Championship, where he had to fight with many leaders who had still managed to make some noise in the international arena. Konovalov followed some of them as a child. So, among the participants was his idol Anton Babikov, but he was not the main favorite. And Kirill Bazhin, and Karim Khalili, and Eduard Latypov were ready to fight for high places.

During the first half of the race, Konovalov was constantly among the contenders for medals, but he did not climb into the lead, and this was not necessary when there were a dozen strong athletes at the head of the peloton.

After the second milestone, a clear top four emerged. Savely was accompanied by Karim Khalili, Evgeniy Sidorov and Stepan Danilov from Belarus. They all shot accurately twice. For Konovalov, two clean sheets were a great achievement, because he periodically had problems in this component.

– He has very good data. It should already begin to open up. His shooting component from a prone position is a little weak. Savely is a talented athlete, he will be a star biathlete when the generational change occurs,” coach Andrei Padin assessed Konovalov right during the race.

And Savely justified the forecast of the experienced coach. The 21-year-old athlete approached the final milestone with the second result, second only to the experienced Khalili. Both biathletes had not made a single mistake before this. In this duel, young Konovalov’s nerves turned out to be stronger. He left the stadium as a leader, 17.8 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer, Alexander Kornev. Not far from the athlete from Udmurtia were Bazhin (+19.6 sec), Khalili (+19.7 sec) and Danilov (+20.8 sec).

On the final lap, the four pursuers significantly reduced the gap, but Savely made it to the finish, winning a landmark victory for himself. Silver went to Bazhin (+5.6 sec), and bronze went to Khalili (+6.6 sec).

Watch live broadcasts of the Russian Biathlon Championship on TV channels of the Match family, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

Saveliy Konovalov won the mass start at the Alfa-Bank Russian Biathlon Championship in Izhevsk.

Konovalov covered the 15 km distance in 41 minutes 24.7 seconds, without making a single mistake at four shooting ranges. Kirill Bazhin was second (lag – 5.6 seconds; 2 misses), third – Karim Khalili (+6.6; 1).

Earlier on Sunday, Victoria Metelya won the women’s mass start.

Watch live broadcasts of the Russian Biathlon Championship on TV channels of the Match family, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

Victoria Metelya won the mass start at the Alfa-Bank Russian Biathlon Championship in Izhevsk.

In the 12 km race, Metelya took first place with a result of 42 minutes 13.1 seconds, without making a single mistake on four shooting stages.

Victoria Slivko was second (lag – 8.2 seconds, 0 misses), the top three was closed by Anastasia Tomshina (+36.7, 1 miss).

Later on Sunday there will be a men’s 15 km mass start. Watch the race live from 12:15 (Moscow time) on the Match TV channel, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.