Mark Arendz Reflects on Three-Medal Performance at Para Biathlon World Championships
Two golds. One bronze. One mission: growth.
Canadian biathlon and Para-Nordic skier Mark Arendz entered the 2025 Para Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia, with a clear goal: use the event as a final dress rehearsal for the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games. While he walked away with three medals—two gold and one bronze—the experience was about more than just podium finishes. It was a test of preparation, execution, and adaptation.
“The 2025 Para Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia, were very successful for myself, earning two gold and a bronze medal from the three events,” Arendz shared. “I came into these Worlds looking to use the event as a final dress rehearsal for next year’s Paralympic Winter Games.”
(Photo Credit: Nathaniel Mah)
“The 2025 Para Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia, were very successful for myself, earning two gold and a bronze medal from the three events,” Arendz shared. “I came into these Worlds looking to use the event as a final dress rehearsal for next year’s Paralympic Winter Games.”
Despite his impressive results, he admitted that not every race went according to plan. Having set high expectations for himself, he found his skiing to be strong but was frustrated by small mistakes on the range. "I hadn’t missed a competitive shot this season until Worlds," he explained. "The combination of environmental influences, changing conditions on the range, and lack of sharpness in the first few days of the Championships made things more challenging than expected.”
Still, his ability to adjust and push through setbacks proved to be the key to his success.
Breaking Down the Races
Arendz started the competition with the Sprint, where his ski speed helped him overcome a missed shot. Despite the pressure, he powered through to claim the gold medal by the narrowest of margins.
The Sprint Pursuit, however, presented another challenge. A missed shot in the qualifier put him at a disadvantage early on, and in the final bout, a brief moment of distraction cost him another shot. Leaving the range in fourth, he had to dig deep on the last 1.5km lap, cutting his gap to the leader in half and ultimately finishing in third place.
“Second Worlds medal is fantastic, but it was my performances that I was not satisfied with," Arendz reflected. While a podium finish is always an achievement, he knew he was capable of more.
The highlight of his championship came in the Individual race. After his bronze in the Pursuit, Arendz had to reset mentally and approach the final event with a clear and focused mindset. "The weight of previous performances and expectations was lingering, and I had to reset, refocus, and come back to my base: simple, step-by-step process, which then leads to performance," he explained. His plan worked, and he delivered a near-flawless performance to capture his second gold medal of the championships.
"The medal was fantastic, but it was the reset and the refocus that I write home about. That is what I took the greatest pride in from the day," he said.
A Historic Step for Para Biathlon
Beyond his individual results, Arendz was struck by the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the event organizers in Pokljuka. This was the venue’s first time hosting Para Biathlon, yet they embraced the opportunity to learn and make adjustments as needed.
"One of the pieces I realized my first day in Pokljuka was the openness of the host venue, of its volunteers and local organizing committee," he said. "After the first training session, an issue was brought up regarding the Sitting course, they listened to the suggestions on what might work, and without hesitation added snow to create a safer and more fair course. That is not a response you get from all hosts."
The Championships also marked a major milestone for Para Biathlon’s visibility. For the first time, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) broadcasted the competition live, providing a production quality that matched their able-bodied World Cup events. Arendz sees this as a major step forward for the sport.
"The IBU has embraced the new addition of Para Biathlon to their Biathlon Family," he said. "An example of that was the World Championships being broadcast live, streaming across the globe, and in a quality that matches any one of IBU’s World Cups. I think it is those details that will drive IBU to become a leader in Para sport."
With the 2026 Paralympic Games on the horizon, Mark Arendz continues to set the standard in Para Biathlon. His performance in Pokljuka proved that he has the skill, endurance, and mental fortitude to remain at the top of the sport. But just as importantly, his reflections on the event show that success isn’t just about medals—it’s about learning, adapting, and elevating the sport as a whole.
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