OBERHOF, Germany – Canada’s Emma Lunder was flexing toughness and endurance by working overtime at the 2023 Biathlon World Championships, where she cashed in a top-10 at the major competition.
The country’s top biathlete was seventh on the very last day of the world championships in Oberhof, Germany, in the women’s 12.5-kilometre mass start, which came right down to the wire.
Norway’s Karoline Offigstad Knotten crossed the finish line at 37:45.7 (19/20), while Lunder clocked in at 37:45.8 on 18-for-20 shooting.
“I was in a sprint finish for a top-6 finish, ultimately placing 7th,” said Lunder, in an email. “We had amazing support the entire two weeks from our coaching staff and wax team, and I think that really made all the difference for my consistency through the races.
“Especially after a disappointing Olympic Games last winter due to illness during the season, I feel very proud to see all of my training come together and have a lot more consistency this year."
Here we go! 🥳
— BMW IBU World Championships Biathlon (@IBU_WC) February 19, 2023
The last competition of the World Championships is officially underway! What an atmosphere for the Women Mass Start!
Watch live on https://t.co/bk5aBBso9Q and follow along on the Offficial IBU App! 💪 pic.twitter.com/rgoN4Ua5q3
Following a full-on schedule – completing seven races in 11 days – Lunder was fatigued, but managed to dig down and find some magic in the mass start. Had she shot clean, or only missed one shot, the Canuck would have contended for a world championship medal.
It’s these results that have the Canuck beaming with confidence.
“It feels like the podium is within my reach, and I am extremely motivated for the final trimester of the racing season,” said Lunder.
Coming into the world championships, Lunder was a Canadian to keep an eye on.
With some remarkable results, Lunder has been Canada’s top sharpshooter this season, finding the top-10 three times on the world cup circuit including a narrow miss of the podium in fourth in early December.
It was expected Lunder would be Canada’s workhorse at the world championships, competing in all three relay races and four solos. Canada finished eighth in the mixed relay; 11th in the women’s; and 13th in the single mixed with teammate Adam Runnalls, who was the top-performing Canadian man at the world champs.
In solo races, Lunder stayed inside the top-30. She finished 11th in the 7.5-km sprint on nine-for-10 shooting; 30th in the 10-km pursuit (13/20); and 25th in the 15-km individual (17/20).
“I was thrilled to finish the Sprint in 11th, knowing I was setup well for the Pursuit, and also a potential start in the Mass Start,” said Lunder. “I struggled on the range in the Pursuit, but with strong ski form managed to stay in the top-30.”
In other solo Canadian results, Nadia Moser’s best finish came in women’s pursuit when the Yukon-native crossed the line in 37th (17/20).
In the 20-km men’s individual, Runnalls had his biggest day, finishing 30th on 18-for-20 shooting.
Christian Gow had a rough world championships and couldn’t quite find his shot in the solo races. He finished well outside of expectations, and had a top result of 89th in the individual (14/20).
