Lake Placid hosts the largest biathlon team camp in U.S. history. US BIATHLON

The two-week camp at the Lake Placid Olympic Village included 34 athletes, seven coaches, four members of the physiology staff and nine members of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Next month, the senior national team will travel to Livigno, Italy for a high-altitude training camp.

"We are excited to bring this large group of athletes together in one place," said Lowell Bailey, U.S. Biathlon's Director of High Performance. In June, the largest biathlon team in US history arrived at the Lake Placid Olympic Village, home to Mount Van Hoevenberg, site of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, and one of the two Olympic and Paralympic Training Centres in the United States.

Athletes from the Senior National Team, National Development Group, X Team and Junior National Team gathered for two weeks. The expedition included thirty-four athletes, seven coaches, four members of the Montana State University physiology faculty, and nine additional staff members from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and US Biathlon.

"We have been able to provide world-class training to more athletes than ever before. It is clear that these collaborative opportunities are of benefit to all of the athletes in attendance, regardless of their level of development," said Lowell Bailey.

34 athletes have trained collectively and individually under the best possible conditions in Lake Placid. US BIATHLON
34 athletes have trained collectively and individually under the best possible conditions in Lake Placid. US BIATHLON

Exclusive small group training and individual sessions to perfect technique and address individual training needs were part of the athletes' programme.

In addition to training, they also underwent physiological testing with the physiology department at Montana State University. VO2, threshold, motion capture and force analysis psychological tests were carried out. This is the second season of U.S. Biathlon's partnership with MSU, providing the athletes with invaluable training data and a new 3D look at each athlete's technique.

"Training with such a talented group of athletes has been incredibly rewarding," said Sarah Beaulieu, US Biathlon National Development Group athlete. "In addition, resources such as recovery modalities and access to nutritionists and rehab facilities at the Lake Placid Olympic and Paralympic Training Centre certainly take our training experience to the next level."

The athletes have undergone physiological tests to measure their physical condition, sampling, analysis and comparison. US BIATHLON
The athletes have undergone physiological tests to measure their physical condition, sampling, analysis and comparison. US BIATHLON

This was one of the stops as the work continues in a variety of ways. National Development Group, X Team and Junior National Team members will participate in USA Biathlon's summer regional roller skiing competitions, starting with the Western Regional Summer Biathlon Roller Ski Competition on Saturday, June 22 at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Centre in Midway, UT.

Meanwhile, the senior national team will travel to Europe for a high-altitude training camp that begins in Livigno, Italy, and concludes in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Lenzerheide is the site of the upcoming 2025 BMW IBU World Championships.