In the 2023/24 season, the junior category is open to athletes born in 2002 or later. There are not yet any names from the front pages of newspapers among them, but the medalists from Polana Jakuszycka can be expected to appear there soon. In the past, biathletes who achieved success at the European Junior Championships later became legends on many occasions. This was the case, among others, with the first European junior champion in the individual event, Andrea Henkel. In 2002, she won Olympic gold in the same event, and later became world champion in each of the four individual events.

In 2000, Tora Berger won silver in the individual event in Kościelisko. It was the first international start for the then 18-year-old Norwegian, who a decade later became Olympic champion in this prestigious discipline in Vancouver. She ended her career in 2014 as an eight-time world champion.

Tarjei Boe’s performance in 2009 went down in the history of the European Junior Championships. In Ufa, Russia, the Norwegian won all four gold medals, triumphing in the sprint, pursuit, individual event and relay. His career took off after that success. Twelve months later, he stood on the top step of the Olympic podium, and the following season he won the crystal globe. In total, he has 23 World Championship medals to his name. The 35-year-old athlete still belongs to the world elite, as evidenced by his position as runner-up in the overall World Cup standings halfway through the 2023/24 season.

There are many more such currently competing athletes who, before becoming regulars among the medalists at the most important competitions, achieved their first successes at the European Junior Championships. They include Julia Simon, Elvira Oeberg, Marketa Davidova and Emilien Jacquelin.

The European Junior Championships can therefore confidently be described as a forge for future champions. This makes the upcoming edition of the competition, taking place in the first half of February at Polana Jakuszycka in Szklarska Poręba, all the more worth following. More than three weeks before the event began, over 150 athletes from 29 countries had registered to participate.

Opened in 2022, the Dolnośląskie Centrum Sportu is one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Europe. It was a long-awaited addition to the opportunities offered by this unique corner of Poland. DCS is a facility created both for amateurs who want to enjoy several dozen kilometres of ski trails in the Izera Mountains and as a training venue for professionals preparing for the most important competitions. During its still relatively short operation, DCS has already proven itself as a venue for national and international biathlon and cross-country skiing competitions, led by the Bieg Piastów, which belongs to the Worldloppet federation.

Importantly, during the championships, the athletes will occupy only a small part of the Jakuszyce ski trails and will compete exclusively on the approximately 7.5-kilometre competition courses and at Polana Jakuszycka itself. The competition area will be fenced off with nets. The remaining trails, totalling 88 kilometres, will remain open and maintained by the Bieg Piastów Association. They can be accessed at eight points: Bieg Piastów Association car parks (1b), Polana Maliszewskiego (20), Huta (43), Chatka Robaczka (41), Czerwony Potok (26), Harrachov railway station (6), Novy Svet–Harrachov–via the Partyzancka Trail to Dział Izerski (7). It will also be possible to enter the trail at Orle via the Polana Jakuszycka railway platform (1). The numbers in parentheses are those used to mark the individual locations on most maps and trail signs.

Competition schedule:

  • 7 February, 10:30 a.m. – women’s individual event (12.5 km)
  • 7 February, 2:00 p.m. – men’s individual event (15 km)
  • 8 February, 10:30 a.m. – mixed relay (4x6 km)
  • 8 February, 2:00 p.m. – super mixed relay (6 km + 7.5 km)
  • 10 February, 10:30 a.m. – women’s sprint (7.5 km)
  • 10 February, 2:00 p.m. – men’s sprint (10 km)
  • 11 February, 10:30 a.m. – women’s 60-person mass start (9 km)
  • 11 February, 2:00 p.m. – men’s 60-person mass start (12 km)