Biathlete headed to Youth Junior World Championships
Malcolm McCulloch, a member of the Highlands Trailblazers, has won a seat to the 2025 IBU Youth Junior World Championships in Ostersund, Sweden taking place from Feb. 26 to March 5.
Despite a persistent head cold, the fiery redhead persevered at the Canadian national qualifying race series in Prince George, B.C.
“I’m thrilled to have earned this incredible opportunity thanks to my coaches, family, and teammates,” McCulloch said. “I’m excited to see how I rank compared to the best of the best. My goal is to get a couple of top-30s, maybe a top-20. Some of these guys have been competing on the international circuit for a couple of years now, and this is my first year.”
During races, biathletes fly around a cross country ski course, pausing several times at a shooting range to knock down a row of five quarter-sized targets with shots from specialized .22 caliber rifles. After three days of racing at the 2025 Biathlon Canada Youth/Junior World Championship Trials in Prince George, cumulative results were calculated and McCulloch ended up in third place, winning one of four male berths to the Games.
“The pursuit race was my best of the three,” says McCulloch. “I was leading until the fourth bout of shooting and then I missed four of the five targets.”
McCulloch has been training with the Highlands Trailblazers Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Club (HTB) at Highlands Nordic ski resort in Duntroon since the age of seven, where he first developed his passion for the sport. This past spring, McCulloch made the decision to relocate to further his training at the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre in Canmore (the epicentre of biathlon in Canada), a move that has greatly contributed to his continued growth as an elite athlete.
“Malcolm’s progress and dedication have been truly inspiring,” said head HTB biathlon coach Chris Skelton. “He has worked hard over the years and his selection for the IBU Youth Junior World Championships is a testament to his talent and commitment. We are incredibly proud of him and excited to see what he will accomplish at the event.”
The IBU Youth Junior World Championships is the most prestigious event in youth biathlon, bringing together top athletes from around the world to compete in both individual and relay events, with athletes vying for gold in disciplines that test their speed, endurance, and accuracy. The event in Oestersund is especially significant, as it provides valuable international experience and exposure for athletes looking to compete at the highest levels in biathlon.
McCulloch’s goal is to compete in the 2030 Olympics in France.
“I’m 18 now and biathletes hit the top of their game at 24 and older,” he said, “so the Olympics in France are right in line with that for me.”
Daniel S. Guay photo/NCS Media Group: Malcolm McCulloch competes at the Biathlon Canada 2025 World Junior Youth Trials held Jan. 3-7 at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club in Prince George, British Columbia.
