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Fan Vote Propels Estonian Biathlon Team to IBU Weekly Award
Estonia's men's biathlon relay team secured the International Biathlon Union's Athlete of the Week title after their fifth-place finish at the Ruhpolding World Cup, their best result in 21 years, was backed by over 4,300 fan votes in a public poll.
- —The Estonian men's biathlon relay team was awarded the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Athlete of the Week title with a significant majority of votes.
- —The team achieved a fifth-place finish at the Ruhpolding World Cup, marking their best result in the event since 2003.
- —The IBU highlighted the historical significance of the achievement, noting that some team members were not yet born in 2003.
- —The Estonian team, composed of Mark-Markos Kehva, Kristo Siimer, Rene Zahkna, and Jakob Kulbin, secured over 4300 votes in the fan poll.
- —Other nominees included Lucie Charvatova of the Czech Republic for perfect shooting in a women's relay, Isak Frey of Norway for his first World Cup podium in the sprint, and Hanna Öberg of Sweden for winning the sprint and placing second in the pursuit.
Recap
The Estonian biathlon team's Athlete of the Week award is a dual victory, reflecting both a historic athletic achievement and a successful public engagement campaign. The fan-driven nature of the win signals growing support for the sport in Estonia, which can translate into increased visibility and potential for future funding, marking a significant morale and strategic boost for the national program.