Biathlon: Aussie young guns Alex Almoukov and Lucy Glanville have their eyes on PyeongChang 2018 and beyond after a successful Sochi Games.

In a sport where athletes hit their peak as they approach 30, 23-year-old Almoukov pulled off Australia’s greatest ever men's Olympic result as he finished 45^th in the 20km Individual while claiming a credible 73^rd in the 10km Sprint.

Bettering Andrew Paul’s 47^th from the 1984 Sarajevo Games, Almoukov was perfect on his opening three shooting stages before missing two targets prior to his final lap as he was eyeing a top 25 finish.

“I was really happy to get a top 50 result,” said the Russian-born Aussie.

“The last Olympics weren’t that successful for me but it was good to get the experience but now I know what it was like I know how to prepare for each event.

“I’ve improved a lot from the last Olympics and hopefully for PyeongChang I will improve even more.”

For 19-year-old Olympic debutant Glanville the experience she has acquired competing in the 15km Individual and the 7.5km Sprint in Sochi will no doubt prove invaluable as she pushes herself to new heights.

“I was happy with the results. I was the youngest in the field so I wasn’t expecting too much.”

“I was really excited to have qualified. It was amazing to have raced here and I’m looking forward to producing some good quality results in Korea and then in the future again.

“Being in Russia they love their Biathlon so the crowds were crazy so it was really exciting.

With not a large participation rate in Australia compared to that in powerhouse nations like Norway, Glanville is hoping the sport continues to grow back home.

“I would love for more girls to make the Team so we can start in a relay or mixed relay.

“I would love to see the sport progress, get bigger and have more of us racing in the Olympics”

One of the stories of the Sochi Games was Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoerndalen confirming himself as the most successful ever Winter Olympian. The 40-year-old moved his personal medal tally to 13, eight of them Gold, after winning the Sprint and the Mixed Team relay to cap off what has been an incredible career in one of his nation’s most beloved sports. Bjoerndalen’s efforts helped his nation top the medal tally with Norway claiming 3 Gold, one Silver and a Bronze.

Belarus’ Darya Domracheva also made history as she became the first female to win three Biathlon gold medals at the one Games. After claiming a bronze in Vancouver the 27-year-old stood on top of the podium in the Individual, Pursuit and Mass Start events.