British biathlete Marcus Webb is aiming to become the first male to qualify for the Winter Olympics since 2014 – a remarkable feat as he only started the sport in 2019.
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, a sport that demands endurance, mentality and precision.
Webb, a captain in the Royal Artillery took the sport up full time in 2022 and the Winter Olympics is now or never for him as he returns to army duties at the end of the season.
Webb said: “The big goal is the Olympic qualification.
“A bit of determination and a bit of grit that’s hopefully going to get me from a non-athlete to Olympics in four or five years.”
“But I think I’m most excited about just seeing what I can achieve after this summer of training – trying to not put too much pressure on myself.”
The 30-year-old is one of 12 elite sports persons selected by the army.
In 2020 Webb was picked for the GB development squad where he evenly juggled army responsibilities with biathlon.
He was then told by his coaches that he might have a chance to qualify for the Olympics.
Webb said: “That was when I had to decide. Do I want to focus on the army career or do I want to give this a shot?
“I didn’t know what was going to happen, or what it would be like.”
After some deliberation Webb seized the chance and moved to Lillehammer, Norway, to join Team Blåne in April 2022.
Webb believes he has been fortunate with the army funding his Olympic dream as many winter athletes struggle for funding.
Webb said: “With support from the army it’s been fundamental to everything I’ve been able to do.
“I’ve been able to focus on the things I need to achieve to achieve my goal.
“I know for a lot of athletes the funding question comes first and then what they want to achieve comes second.”
In February this year Webb finished 78th in the Men’s Individual at the Biathlon World Championships.
Great Britain is not a top-ranking nation so Webb will need strong results in the IBU Cup, starting at the end of November, in order to qualify as a wildcard.
Webb made bold changes this summer, leaving Team Blåne for new coaches to put him in peak shape for his winter run.
Four weeks altitude training along with intense heat training helped his body to adapt.
Webb also trains on roller skis on solid ground, which closely simulates snow skiing, making up about 60% of all training.
Training also includes variety such as running and cycling which helps with injury prevention.
Biathlon combines the endurance side of the cross-country skiing and shooting; competitors ski into a lane and either stand or lay down to shoot, depending on the lap.
Despite the need for absolute accuracy being paramount in shooting, the sport also requires a huge amount of mental discipline.
After pushing your body to the limit, you then have to steady yourself and hit targets from 50m.
Webb said: “A lot of biathletes can hit 100%. It’s more about being able to switch on and use the right tools to get yourself in the mindset where you’re able to control the rifle and follow the process and not think about the results.
“Because as soon as you start thinking about the results, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ve just hit nine out of 10, just the last one, it’s going to be fine’, and then bang, missed.
“With the coach we try and pick small things to focus on, like trigger pressure, or how am I supporting my elbow and my hip, to just focus the mind.”
“You can still be in the best shape of your life but if the shooting isn’t there you won’t achieve it”
A rifle is carried around by the athletes and must weigh at least 3.5kg.
Webb has worked hard to get his rifle perfectly suited to him, which he has now had for around two years.
The barrels are generally quite similar for everyone but Webb has a stock made of blossom walnut personalised for him.
The competition is tough to qualify as a wildcard for Milan Cortina 2026, and Webb had two races earlier in the year that could have led to qualification.
This season Webb will concentrate on the IBU Cup rather than the World Cup viewing this as his best chance of qualifying.
The top 20 nations will qualify for the Olympic biathlon taking between four and six athletes each leaving up to 12 wildcard places to fight for amongst the lesser nations such as Britain.
The IBU Cup is a tier down from the World Cup but can gain better qualification points for the Olympics.
Webb said: “There’s a lot at play. I’m hopeful but I think it’s just follow the process to how I know how to do it.
“If I know I’ve done the best I can then what will be, will be. Biathlon is great fun but it does require a lot of effort and sacrifice.”
Marcus Webb will not only be carrying a rifle on his back as he heads into the IBU Cup this season, he’ll be carrying the dreams to become the first British male to compete in Olympic Biathlon for nearly a decade.
Featured image credit: Unsplash
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