Campbell Wright, the all-black top seed in biathlon who risks not going to Beijing 2022

Born in 2002 from Wanaka (Otago – New Zealand), in the winter (southern) bartender and cyclist, in the summer an athlete with a dream: to go to the Olympics to raise Aotearoa as high as possible. Campbell has already participated in the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne in 2020, participating in both biathlon and cross-country skiing, but the goal is to be in Beijing, to gain experience in light of Milan-Cortina 2026. After also participating in the World Ski Championships At Oberstdorf in 2021 (103rd in the 15km freestyle after taking second place in qualifying) he devoted himself full time to the rifle, making his debut among the biathlon greats on the occasion of the Sprint Pokloka World Championships. From that moment on, 9 World Cup matches begin and two points enter: the first in the Oestersund Sprint (40), the second in Ruhpolding, where he finished 25th without a shot.

An exceptional personal result, the best in New Zealand history and in general for an athlete from the Southern Hemisphere, but not sufficient to meet the criteria set by the New Zealand Olympic Committee, which requires the minimum requirements (in all sports) to be placed in the top 16. But Campbell, who has Livigno as a coaching base and is backed by coach Luca Bormolini, has a Plan B. The United States actually suggested calling him to the Olympics, given that the boy had an American passport. The parents actually hold dual citizenship.

Tomorrow NZOC is expected to announce Beijing’s lineup, but although the issue has already been raised by local media and Campbell has repeatedly declared that he wants to represent the All-Blacks’ colors in China, the decision has not been taken for granted. . However, the precedents for Tokyo 2021, in which two runners participated, are not very encouraging. Moreover, relations with the New Zealand Federation are not idyllic, because Campbell is self-financed with sponsors. But the United States, led by the Italian Ochentler, showed interest in him and Beijing could become a reality. Meanwhile, on Sunday there will be the chase and then Anterselva, to continue to wonder and dream.