Majgurov remained at the helm of SBR. He was certain of being re-elected during times of isolation.

Viktor Maygurov remains at the helm of SBR: a sure victory in a time of isolation

The Union of Biathlonists of Russia has determined its development strategy for the next four years. The current president of the organization, Viktor Maygurov, has retained his position, receiving overwhelming support from the delegates at the reporting and election conference.

The results of the voting speak for themselves: 46 votes were given to Maygurov’s candidacy. His only opponent, Yuri Batmanov, received only six votes. This significant difference indicates that the biathlon community has united around the current leadership during a time when Russian sports face many challenges.

Viktor Maygurov has been leading SBR since 2020, when he was elected for an additional term. His background includes working in the board of directors of the Union during Mikhail Prokhorov’s time at the helm. He also held the position of first vice-president of the International Union of Biathlonists (IBU) after the Sochi Olympics.

However, the main challenge for this new term isn’t internal politics. Instead, it’s the external isolation that Russia’s biathlonists face. Russian athletes continue to be excluded from international competitions due to geopolitical circumstances. In May, closed hearings were held at the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the case filed by Russia. However, the verdict has not yet been announced.

Maygurov’s re-election means that the path set by his predecessors continues. Now, the leadership of SBR is expected to not only develop the internal schedule, but also effectively lobby for the interests of athletes on the international stage, thereby helping Russia to return to the ranks of the world’s best biathlonists as soon as possible.