BIATHLON: Alex Almoukov clocked two top ten performances at the Winter University Games in Trentino (ITA) before winning bronze in the men's Pursuit event.
BIATHLON: Australian Olympic biathlete Alex Almoukov has produced a blinding performance in the men's 12.5km Pursuit to take bronze at the 26th Winter University Games in Trentino, Italy.
The Pursuit is one of the most thrilling Biathlon events- with competitors starting in the exact position (with the same time gap) as they finished in the previous Sprint event.
Starting in 7th position (+27.7s behind), Almoukov overtook several rivals on his way to a grandstand finish with Russian duo Aleksandr Pechenkin and Sergei Kliachin.
Pechenkin started in 4th position (+16.9s behind) while Kliachin had the most ground to make up starting in 15th spot (+51.6s behind).
By the final stretch it was a race in three. Lunging for the finish line, Pechenkin stopped the clock in 35:09.9. His team-mate Kliachin was just 0.4s behind to take the silver medal with Australia's Almoukov clutching for the bronze (+0.8s).
It was Australia's first medal of the 2013 Winter University Games.
Three days later Almoukov finished 15th out of 29 finishers in the Mass Start event.
In the women's race, Lucy Glanville had a problem with her rifle sights, and withdrew after her first shooting bout.
Previous results
On Friday and Sunday, the Biathlon Individual and Sprint events were held at the Winter University Games in Trentino, ITA.
In the 20km Individual, Alex Almoukov finished an impressive 10th out of 63 starters with three penalties. Daniel Walker finished 45th and Lucy Glanville was 24th in the women's 15km Individual race from 27 starters.
With a rest day under their belts, the Australians returned for the Sprint events. Almoukov recorded another top 10 finish in the 10km, finishing 7th in a field of 68. Walker was 52nd.
In the women's 7.5 km Sprint, Glanville finished 33rd from 43 finishers.
All those who finished 60th position or higher are ellgible to start in the Pursuit event today.
"Happy with the result, let's hope I move up some places in tomorrow's Pursuit!" Almoukov Tweeted.
The Pursuit race is run with competitors starting in the exact position (with the same time gap) as they finished the Sprint the day before.
First Biathlon events for 2014:
World Cup 4 - Oberhof, GER
From Friday 3 Jan
IBU Cup 4 - Ridnaun-Val Ridanna, ITA
From Sun 5 Jan
