In the 2024/25 season, 22-year-old Ukrainian biathlete Vitalii Mandzyn started 21 of the 25 individual World Cup races. His debut made headlines when he finished fourth in his very first solo competition, and soon after he reached the podium with the men’s relay team. He closed the season ranked 31st overall, missing out on the top 30 after illness kept him out of the final pursuit in Holmenkollen. With that foundation, he now sets his sights even higher for the coming year.

For Mandzyn, breaking into the elite meant far more than just results. “The hardest part was realizing that I really could compete at the level of the best,” he admitted. For the first time he experienced the thrill of qualifying for a mass start or standing at the flower ceremony, milestones that arrived earlier than expected. Accepting those achievements as the product of hard work rather than luck became one of his biggest lessons of the year.

That growth was fueled by a competitive mindset shaped since childhood. “I’ve always wanted to do things well, even in the smallest details,” he explained. Teachers had already noticed that classmates looked up to him, and over time that drive evolved into sporting ambition. In his own words, “biathlon demands a big goal — and I have one too.”

The tough lessons of the elite

Not everything went smoothly in his debut season. After a strong start in Kontiolahti, he faced a slump in Hochfilzen, where nothing seemed to work and the relay brought two penalty loops. “It was hard to understand why something that worked one week suddenly failed the next,” he recalled. The frustration was even greater in team events, where mistakes “hurt twice as much” because of the responsibility to others.

That period forced him to focus on the mental side of competition. “In the end I realized it was simpler than it seemed: just do the same things you’ve done hundreds of times in training, and the results will come,” he said. By mid-season his consistency returned, and the Ukrainian became convinced those experiences would help him in the future.

Night walks and family support

Challenging moments were not faced alone. Mandzyn highlighted the importance of his close circle: “My parents always help me, support me and accept me as I am, and I’m endlessly grateful for that.” He also pointed to his faith as a source of strength, along with the encouragement of fans, especially after difficult races.

To regain confidence, he turns to evening walks, conversations with family and friends, or quiet time on his own. “The key is not to beat yourself up too much and to keep moving forward. No champion has gone through their career without hard moments,” he reflected. Convinced that perseverance is essential, he added: “Sometimes you have to try a hundred times, sometimes a thousand, and maybe it still won’t work. But the moment you stop trying, everything loses its meaning.”

A week at home feels like a holiday

The young Ukrainian also acknowledged the price of success. Training camps, travel and races leave little room for personal life. “One week at home already feels like a holiday,” he admitted. Still, he values what biathlon gives back — growth, recognition and new opportunities — provided balance can be maintained.

That balance, he explained, comes from family life. “The atmosphere at home is my real source of energy and what restores me best,” said Mandzyn. With that support and his ambitious mindset, he now approaches the new season convinced that his career is only beginning and that there is still a long road ahead in the World Cup.