Three more days have gone by so fast! I’ll be leaving in less than a week, yet the races have only just begun.

Team USA was lucky to arrive earlier than usual, giving us time to adjust to the time change, recover, and get to know the racecourse better.

Now, all the competitors have arrived, and we are two days into racing!

Opening ceremonies are an annual celebration of this event—similar to the Olympics, just on a smaller scale. We had an athlete parade, got to see one of our Swedish idols on stage, and stayed for a Swedish pop-star concert! During the ceremonies, they also announced that Östersund has put in a bid to host the World Championships in 2031. It was inspiring for all of us athletes, as many of us aspire to compete at that level by then.

The next day, it was already time for the youth races! I did my first intensity session since being sick to prepare for my race the next day, then watched the youth races from the main TV at home. (Yes, they have live Junior Worlds biathlon coverage on Channel 1 here!). I watched my high school teammate and friend, John Lohuis, race to a top-20 finish. It was amazing and inspiring to see him achieving his goals!

Then, it was my turn to race. The course conditions were beautiful—hard-packed, fast snow, with sunny and warm weather. The range was calm, with no wind. It was the perfect day for a long, shooting-heavy race.

As soon as I started, I could tell it was going to be a tough day on the skis. My body struggled with the 12.5k effort. I also had a rough start on the range, missing one shot in the first stage and two in the second. But I was able to reset, relax, and hit the rest of my targets. I was also happy to meet my goal of hitting five standing targets in 31 seconds—faster than my usual 43-45 seconds.

Even though I missed some of my goals and didn’t perform at my absolute best, I’m proud that I gave my all and stayed focused on what mattered.

Now, it’s time for a little rest and a chance to be a spectator at one of the biggest races of the year! I’m excited to watch the mixed relays today and get ready for a better race in the Sprint 7.5k on March 2nd!