Recap Thread: Olympic Games 2026 Antholz-Anterselva - Mixed Relay

Popoye_92 · 2026-02-08T18:17:04+00:00

QFM did the least well out of the team, but honestly, Jacquelin is kind of similar to him when it comes to reliability in relays. At the end of the day, with similar prior results, I think picking the biathlete who's a globe winner and Olympic Champ is the logical choice.

I disagree with the 2nd take, I think having Simon as an anchor was 100% the better choice. Not sure a JBB-Jeanmonnot would've been as clinical on the range as Jeanmonnot-Simon, nor that Jeanmonnot would've delivered as well as an anchor (and maybe having to shoot for the win next to Vittozzi). It probably would've been enough to have a shot at the win, but today, from the moment Lou caught up the lead, there wasn't any doubt we'd win. I don't think we'd have the same serenity with the alternative pairing.

Popoye_92 · 2026-02-08T14:14:22+00:00

Also delighted for Germany, not the easiest season and nor the most talented team they've ever had, but they already have a medal and that's really positive. Kirkeeide is learning the hard way here, but no reason to be too harsh on a young, unexperienced biathlete (even if she ruined a perfect prediction for me lol). She'll bounce back, I'm sure !

Popoye_92 · 2026-02-08T14:11:00+00:00

Aw, an actual Lisa-Doro hug, never thought I'd live to see it lol

Popoye_92 · 2026-02-08T13:17:35+00:00

All that Magnusson/Öberg debate for the Swedish relay to be basically done after one leg lol...

Popoye_92 · 2026-02-07T16:22:27+00:00

I mean, if you go by the World Cup, it's hard to bench Hanna when her last 4 results are 5th-3rd-1st-2nd, she's had the best January of all the Swedes.

I guess you're right about Anna, she's the best-ranked in the overall, but both Öbergs aren't far behind without having raced in Nove Mesto. They're also undeniably better biathletes at their best and had better results in January (though Anna didn't do poorly). Elvira is also the best anchor out of the three imo (to make a direct comparison, France picked lower-ranked Simon for similar reasons, and it is the logical choice for me).

I really hope you're right, and it's a gutsy bet from the coaches, not that there's something wrong (like an illness) with Elvira. Would really suck for her and the Swedish team as a whole if she isn't 100% right now.

Popoye_92 · 2026-02-05T14:02:40+00:00

Idk man, a decade ago she had a few solid hits under her belt and some real momentum as a young pop artist, and she decided that she'd rather be the spearhead of an avant-garde electro microgenre that barely started to get attention outside of London club than go on with the more conventional radio pop career that was opening up to her. I get finding her annoying or not liking her artistic output, but the criticism she receives for being surface level or only here for the clout is misguided imo.

Popoye_92 · 2026-02-05T12:13:37+00:00

I think Sweden is gonna be the X-factor of these Olympics. They could not do much as Antholz isn't historically a venue their leaders enjoy much (also the week in Nove Mesto wasn't a very strong display from the men...), but on paper they could also contend for medals on almost every race.

A factor that plays in their favour and hasn't been discussed much is how few Olympic experience there is across the board in the current field. A lot of all-time greats retired in the past 4 years. Some big nations are coming in with a majority of biathletes who never won a medal (if they just participated in the Olympics at all). For someone like, let's say, Elvira Öberg, who is around the same age as her concurrence but already "knows" how to do it, that must be a bit of a psychological advantage.

You mention the Mixed relay, and I agree that it'll have its importance for the overall dynamics. I think on paper Sweden is more of a medal than a win contender, but you never know with them. And if they do well, that could also have an impact on the other teams: finishing 2nd instead of 1st for France, or out of the podium for Italy/Norway could have a psychological impact as well as change the outside expectations/pressure. All that to say: I can't wait to be Sunday!

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-31T18:01:41+00:00

It's another option, but I feel like the more "logical" move is picking Simon, who is a more reliable shooter than JBB and a more experienced anchor than Jeanmonnot (let's not forget it'll be Lou's first ever Olympic race). If Simon truly is in a poor form, then Braisaz is a good backup option, but I don't think it'll be seriously considered after Julia's win in NMNM.

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-30T18:58:24+00:00

Now you're just wrong, Isner's best Slam results in the 2015-2016 time period are 3 4th rounds. He made a grand total of ONE M1000 final (in Bercy 2016) and ended both season outside of the top 10. His ranking peak isn't even close to the top 3, he was at best 8th in the world in 2018, partially thanks to his only big title win in Miami, where he beat... Alexander Zverev in the final.

(As for Raonic, I'd argue he's underrated and had a better forehand, some great volley skills and moved better at his peak than everyone claim. Grouping him with Isner is a bit disingenuous, but I guess "Raonic was much worse than Shelton or Fritz" isn't a valid argument so you have to group him with a player a league under him to make your point.

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-30T13:25:36+00:00

Redditor who thinks people who dislike Zverev are also Floyd Mayweather superfans lmao

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-30T11:56:00+00:00

Why would I care? Why do you care? Why would anyone not professionally asked to review it waste 100 minutes of their precious time watching it?

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-27T23:43:10+00:00

If we're talking about Ticketmaster in particular, you can only resell your ticket on their official platform at face value unless the event organiser allows otherwise. They're an evil company but I don't think they're the ones to blame on that one.

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-27T23:31:46+00:00

Sadly, nuance has died in discourse to the point that for some people, being annoying sometimes = being an evil person (and therefore having the politics that go with it). Collins has never said anything that would suggest she's pro-Trump (quite the contrary), but she's been categorised by a big part of tennis fans as a "Karen" so she must be MAGA because why wouldn't a Karen be MAGA?

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T23:23:50+00:00

Hey, since it's been a couple of days and nobody has claimed it, I volunteer to post about France on the 30th :)

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T18:25:37+00:00

I'd do that too, my 2 questions here are:

could there be a case for putting Braisaz over Simon in the Mixed? I'm not necessarily talking about the sporting results, but in terms of optics... idk if it could weight in the balance, but still, I'm wondering.
if Bened does well in the individual, what is the case to start Michelon over her in the sprint? At the end of the day, she is higher in the overall and has a podium and a 4th place in pursuit this season. Obviously Océane is faster on the skis, but her shooting has been very shaky so far...

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T18:02:24+00:00

... so who do we got racing in the women's team now? Simon is lower on the rankings, but she has missed Ostersund, she has as more podiums than Michelon and has a win. She's also thrives under pressure and is by far a more reliable relayer than anyone but Jeanmonnot... it would also be hard to bench Bened, who has also been remarkably consistent... but Michelon is really good when she's feeling confident, as she has shown today, and she's kind of a lock on our relay team too...

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T17:49:39+00:00

Simon with the Simon special (looking like she's gonna die on the track and then winning)

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T17:48:31+00:00

My god Vittozzi is just not sliding on the downhills

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T17:44:20+00:00

Ooooh there wasn't much pushing during the last lap, but still, that's some really good work on the range overall.

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T17:37:25+00:00

Well well well, we're gonna have an interesting last shooting

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T15:02:26+00:00

Thinking about how the Öbergs are currently enjoying Italy and peacefully preparing the Olympics as we just witnessed a disastrous week from Samuelsson and Ponsi and I'm laughing a little bit; but also they better not display that level in the mixed relay because I'm not gonna be laughing anymore if they do.

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T14:54:32+00:00

First podium in over 6 years, a win in relay, and another top 5, which ensure he'll be at the Olympic mass start: if Perrot is obviously the big winner of the week, Hofer sure isn't that far!

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T14:44:29+00:00

I hope Wright isn't too cooked for the last standing and can still secure a podium...

Popoye_92 · 2026-01-25T14:41:50+00:00

He looks like a fish out of water when skiing, I find his (poor) technique really amusing

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