Competition continued in Ostersund, Sweden at the IBU World Cup opening weekend of the season, with the single mixed relay and the mixed relay events.

24 countries raced in the single mixed relay at the Swedish National Biathlon Arena. Each team is comprised of one woman and one man per country. They alternate skiing for a total of nine laps and complete four shooting stages each.

Sebastian Samuelsson and Ella Halvarsson teamed up for Sweden to win the single mixed relay in 35:12.1 in front of a roaring home crowd. It was the second single mixed relay victory for the pair who won exactly one year ago in Kontiolahti, Finland.

Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid and Maren Kirkeeide finished 19.1 seconds behind to secure second place.

The French edged out Germany by just a half second, after racing side-by-side to the finish line, to claim the final spot on the podium. Fabien Claude and Camille Bened finished the relay 37.3 seconds behind Sweden. 

The U.S. finished 18th in the single mixed relay.

23 teams competed in a challenging and snowy mixed relay event to close out the day of competition. Two men and two women each skied three 2km laps with prone and standing shooting stages in between.

France took the top spot in the relay, finishing in 1:05:16.5. The French were led by Eric Perrot and Emilien Jacquelin, who placed second with the men's 4x7.5km relay team, as well as Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and relay anchor Lou Jeanmonnot, who were part of the winning women's 4x6km relay team.

Italy finished second, 25.2 seconds back from the lead. It was the second runner-up finish to the French for Lisa Vittozzi and Dorothea Wierer of the weekend. The pair were part of the women's 4x6km relay team who earned the second podium spot. Tommaso Giacomel and Lukas Hofer rounded out the Italian squad on the men's side.

Endre Stroemsheim, Johan-Olav Botn, Karoline Offigstad Knotten and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold of Norway secured the final spot on the podium after completing the relay 1:05.3 after the French. Norway also won the men's 4x7.5km relay.

The U.S. finished sixth in the 4x6km mixed relay. It was the best result in the event for the Americans since 2021. Team USA was led by Campbell Wright, Maxime Germain, Chloe Levins and Deedra Irwin.

Competition continues in Ostersund on Dec. 2 with the women's 15km individual event.