Lowell Bailey: Season of Milestones

For U.S. Biathlon, the 2025-26 season was one of confirmation, momentum and meaningful milestones. In a season-ending conversation on Heartbeat, High Performance Director Lowell Bailey reflected on a year that showed the program’s growing competitive depth across the World Cup tour and at the Olympics in Antholz. While the team came away from the Games without a medal, Bailey pointed to a series of performances that underscored how far the program has come and where it is headed.

Campbell Wright continued to establish himself among the world’s elite, backing up his breakthrough World Championship medals from the previous season with a World Cup podium in the Nové Mesto mass start and an eighth-place finish in the Olympic pursuit. Bailey called Wright’s season further confirmation that he is “here to stay,” with the next step being more consistent podium contention.

The season’s most satisfying moment, Bailey said, came in the mixed relay in Otepää, where the U.S. reached the podium — a powerful indicator of the team’s rising depth. The men’s relay also continued its steady climb, finishing the season ranked fifth in the world, while the women improved their Nations Cup standing from 19th to 13th. For Bailey, those team-based results show that U.S. Biathlon is no longer dependent on one or two athletes, but is building a roster capable of competing across events.

A major storyline was the continued success of Project X, U.S. Biathlon’s talent-transfer pathway for cross country skiers. The emergence of Luci Anderson and Margie Freed over the past few years is a testament to the unique possibilities of the program.

The season also marked the close of two important careers, as Jake Brown and Paul Schommer stepped away from competition. Bailey praised Brown for his intensity, focus and all-in approach, saying his presence pushed teammates to be their best. Schommer, he said, served as a vital bridge between generations, bringing positivity and cohesion to every team environment.

As U.S. Biathlon moves into a new Olympic quad, Bailey sees the program entering another phase of its long-term 2030 plan, with added coaching structure, stronger development support, and renewed focus on shooting, physiology, ski service and performance analytics.

The milestones of this season, Bailey said, are signs that the work is paying off and that U.S. Biathlon is on track.

To our loyal Heartbeat listeners, thanks for tuning in. And we’ll be back again this fall with more.