UIPM 2021 Biathle-Triathle World Championships: Seven nations savour gold in Biathle Mixed Relays

• Schneider & Raeth (GER) claim senior title on day one
• Egypt claim world titles in three youth categories
• More than 300 athletes from 25 countries gather in Bavaria

What a reunion this is shaping up to be.

From the Florida beaches in USA to the Bavarian lakes of Germany, the global Biathle and Triathle communities gathered for the first time in 22 months and competition has rarely been more fierce.

Seven nations savoured the glory of gold on the opening day of the UIPM 2021 Biathle-Triathle World Championships, and the best news is that there are still three days to come.

Biathle (Run-Swim-Run) and Triathle (Swim-Run-Shoot) have been pillars of the global growth of UIPM Sports and 315 athletes from 25 countries are taking part this week. The age categories range from Under-9 to Masters 70+. 

With 30 medals up for grabs in the Biathle Mixed Relay on day one, Germany won the senior title thanks to Annika Schneider – already a junior world and European women’s relay champion in 2021 – and her partner Uli Raeth, while the host nation was also victorious in the Masters 60+ category.

Egypt, so often dominant in youth categories across all UIPM Sports, secured three gold medals and one bronze to take an early lead in the competition medal table. But this is certainly not going to be a duopoly.

There were also gold medals on day one for Estonia, France, Kazakhstan, Spain and Turkey, demonstrating the wonderful diversity of Biathle while athletes from Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Latvia also enjoyed podium time.

The competition had been declared open during an Opening Ceremony on August 25 at which Minister Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian State Minister of the Interior, for Sport and Integration, made a stirring welcome speech.

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “It is wonderful to be here in Weiden to see the return of the UIPM Biathle-Triathle World Championships after the cancellation in 2020 linked to COVID-19.

“This competition is a cornerstone of the UIPM development programme and a very popular event for athletes of all ages from across our global movement. We can see this in the presence of more than 300 athletes from 25 countries here in Weiden.

“We saw some excellent racing today in the Biathle Mixed Relay categories, and I’m sure we will see the same level of commitment and passion over the next three days as the new world champions in Biathle and Triathle are crowned.

“I am grateful to the Minister of Interior and Sport of Bavaria, Mr Joachim Herrmann, for his patronage and for a very kind welcome speech at the Opening Ceremony.

“My thanks go to the local organising committee, with many staff and volunteers working hard to create special memories for all the athletes, coaches and trainers who have come from around the world – and also to the sponsors and media who play an important role in our movement.”

The UIPM 2021 Biathle-Triathle World Championships runs from August 26-29. Results are available via the ‘UIPM Central’ app and on the competition home page.

For the first time, the individual finals can be viewed live at UIPMTV.org - visit now and subscribe if you don’t already have an account.

Fans can also stay tuned to the World Pentathlon pages on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and Instagram for updates and photography.