(January 13, 2018) – U.S. Biathlon has selected Leif Nordgren (Marine, Minn.) and Russell Currier (Stockholm, Maine) as the final two members of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team following their performances at recent IBU Cup races. The announcement finalizes the 10-member team that will compete at next month’s Olympic Winter Games in South Korea. The duo joins previously named male members of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team – Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, N.Y.), Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, N.Y.) and Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H.). All five men have Olympic experience.
Nordgren, 28, will be competing in his second straight Olympic Winter Games in PyeongcChang. He competed in three events at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, including a 45th-place finish in the sprint. He was the top American at last weekend’s IBU Cup sprint in Brezno-Osrblie, Slovakia, with a 15th-place showing. Nordgren has also competed on six world championship teams for the U.S., with his best finish coming in 2011 when he placed 17th in the mass start.
Currier, 30, will also be competing in his second consecutive Olympic Winter Games next month. His best finish at the Sochi Games was a 49th place in the 20-kilometer individual race. He has competed in four IBU World Cups, with his best finish being sixth in the sprint in 2012. He opened 2018 with clean shooting in the IBU Cup at Brezno-Osrblie, Slovakia, placing 14th.
Bailey was the first American athlete from any sport to qualify for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team after winning a historic gold medal in the 20 km individual at last year’s world championships. Burke and Doherty earned spots on the team last month following their performances at the IBU World Cups in November and December.
The female members of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team were finalized on Jan. 11 – Susan Dunklee (Barton, Vt.), Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), Joanne Reid (Boulder, Colo.), Emily Dreissigacker (Morrisville, Vt.) and Maddie Phaneuf (Old Forge, N.Y.).
All selections to the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.
