Top-Level competition in Goms - thrilling races and strong performances

LUCERNE (SUI) - The Nordic Center Goms once again showcased world-class military sports as part of the Winter Military World Games. Under radiant sunshine, a deep blue sky, and perfect winter conditions, athletes delivered impressive performances in both cross-country skiing and biathlon events.

Switzerland and Italy shine in Cross-Country Skiing

The day began with the women’s 10 km cross-country race at 9:30 AM, followed by the men’s 15 km event at 11:00 AM. Switzerland’s Nadja Kälin thrilled the home crowd by taking gold with an outstanding time of 23:28.9 minutes. Italy’s Caterina Ganz claimed silver, finishing just 19 seconds behind, while France’s Flora Dolci rounded out the podium in third. It was an excellent day for the Swiss women, with Giuliana Werro and Marina Kälin also securing top-six finishes.

In the men’s 15 km race, Italy dominated with a remarkable one-two finish: Davide Graz captured gold ahead of his compatriot Elia Barp. Finland’s Markus Vuorela completed the podium, taking bronze. Switzerland’s Candide Pralong finished eighth, an impressive result given the strong international field.

The Para Men Sitting category showcased incredible performances, with Italy securing a strong presence on the podium. Giuseppe Spatola finished first with a time of 13:07,81:53,5, followed by Jacopo Maria Curzi in second place, just 6.6 seconds behind, and Marco Pisani in third, demonstrating impressive consistency across the event.

This event is an exciting addition to the Winter Military World Games, highlighting the incredible skill and determination of para-athletes. Their performance truly exemplifies the power of adaptive sports, and it is a reminder of the importance of inclusivity in military sports competitions.

In the Standing category, Benjamin Daviet of France claimed the gold with an outstanding time of 28:55.1 minutes, leading the race from start to finish. Mattia Dal Pastro of Italy secured the silver, while David Barnabe of France took third place, rounding out an impressive competition.

France dominates the biathlon sprints

The afternoon saw intense competition in the biathlon sprints. In the women’s race, France’s Lou Jeanmonnot delivered a flawless shooting performance (0+0) to secure victory in 23:01.8 minutes. Poland’s Natalia Sidorowicz also shot clean to take silver, while Italy’s Samuela Comola finished third despite one missed target. Switzerland’s top performer was Lena Häcki-Gross, who placed sixth, followed by Amy Baserga (10th), Lea Meier (20th), and Flavia Barmettler (29th).

In the men’s biathlon sprint, France celebrated another triumph as Eric Perrot claimed gold with a time of 25:25.1 minutes and just one missed shot. Estonia’s Jakob Kulbin impressed with clean shooting to take silver in 26:35.6 minutes, while Germany’s Lucas Fratzscher earned bronze despite two missed shots. Switzerland’s Joscha Burkhalter narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth with a strong time of 26:34.3 minutes and one penalty.

Goms: a stage for world-class Military Sport

The competitions in Goms not only highlighted the athletes' remarkable skills but also embodied the spirit of the Games — fairness, camaraderie, and elite performance against the stunning backdrop of the Swiss Alps. The atmosphere was electric, and the motto «Friendship through Sport» was on full display.

• All results are available at: https://www.cism-wmc.ch/en/ranking

• Pictures from the events can be found here: https://share.dma.swiss/s/poZoWrNm6ADwkg9

(Source: https://www.cism-wmc.ch/ – WINOC 25)