38 Days Until The Winter Olympics: U.S. Biathlon Team Adds 3 to Olympic Roster

Christmas was a very jolly time for three Biathlon athletes. Following the conclusion of the final World Cup races of 2025, the U.S. Biathlon International Competition Committee (ICC) ended the suspense, officially naming Margie Freed, Maxime Germain, and Deedra Irwin to the roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games. 

They join early qualifier Campbell Wright to form the core of a squad looking to make waves in Italy from Feb. 6 to 22. For these athletes, the announcement wasn’t just a press release; it was the culmination of years of grueling training, precision shooting, and cross-country skiing across the globe.

Fresh Faces Bring New Energy to the U.S. Biathlon Team  

Freed, a 28-year-old from Apple Valley, Minnesota, represents the perseverance required to succeed in this demanding sport. Freed is a graduate of U.S. Biathlon’s Project X program, a developmental pipeline designed to identify top-tier talent. After being introduced to the discipline at a Talent ID Camp in 2019 and re-engaging in 2020 with her Green Racing Project teammates at Craftsbury Outdoor Center, she has been on a steady climb. 

Since her World Cup debut in 2023, Freed has drastically improved her shooting accuracy and ski times. She ultimately secured her Olympic nomination thanks to a season-best 35th-place finish in the sprint at Ostersund, Sweden. 

Then there is the explosive talent of Germain. He brings a unique flair to the American team. Growing up in Alaska and France, his qualification was earned through gritty performances, including a career-best 11th place in the men’s sprint—despite a miss in the standing shooting position—and a solid 14th in the pursuit. 

He also proved pivotal in team events, helping drive the men’s relay teams to fifth and fourth-place finishes, as well as a sixth-place result in the mixed relay.  

These two Olympic rookies join  Wright, a dual citizen from Wanaka, New Zealand, who had already booked his ticket to Italy. Wright met the preliminary U.S. Biathlon selection criteria back in February by snagging two silver medals at the world championships, signaling that the next generation of American talent is arriving ahead of schedule. Most recently, Wright proved his consistency with a 7th place overall finish in the mass start, cementing his status as a serious contender for the U.S. squad.

Irwin Brings Veteran Leadership  

While the rookies bring fire, Irwin brings the ice-cold nerves of experience. The 33-year-old from Pulaski, Wisconsin, is returning for her second Olympic tour. Irwin is already etched in the history books of the sport, having secured a seventh-place finish in the women’s individual event at the 2022 Beijing Games, the best Olympic finish ever by an American biathlete. She punched her return ticket with a gritty 13th place overall finish in the recent mass start event in France.  

For Irwin, the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics represent something Beijing could not offer: a shared experience. The strict restrictions of 2022 meant competing in isolation, but Milan Cortina will be a family affair.

“I am so excited to represent Team USA at the Olympics for a second time,” Irwin said in a statement. “This Olympics I’ll be able to share with my family and friends, too. They are all so excited to come to Italy, eat some pasta, drink some Aperol Spritz and cheer me on. It’s an honor and privilege to represent my team, the U.S. Army and all the communities that supported me along this journey.”

The roster isn’t fully set in stone just yet. The final Olympic team selection will be announced on Jan. 6, following the high-stakes U.S. Biathlon Timed Trials in Antholz, Italy. That event will determine the remaining spots through one objective and one discretionary selection for both the men’s and women’s sides. But for Freed, Germain, Irwin, and Wright, the pressure of qualification has lifted, allowing them to focus entirely on peaking in February.

Summary of U.S. Olympic Biathlon Qualifiers

• Margie Freed (28): Olympic debut. Qualified via 35th place sprint finish in Ostersund.
• Maxime Germain (24): Olympic debut. Qualified via 11th place sprint and 14th place pursuit results.
• Deedra Irwin (33): Second Olympics. Holds best-ever U.S. Olympic finish (7th in 2022). Qualified via 13th place in mass start.
• Campbell Wright: Dual citizen. Qualified in February 2025 with two silver medals at World Championships.