2026 Olympic Biathlon Mixed Relay: Favorites and Ukraine's Broadcast Schedule

The 2026 Olympic Biathlon Mixed Relay Event

According to Главком: The biathlon mixed relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled for February 8th at 15:05 Kyiv time. This event will feature national teams from various countries, including Ukraine, which will be fielding several new faces on the Olympic stage. The mixed relay is a thrilling team event where both men and women compete, testing speed, shooting accuracy, and teamwork.

According to bookmakers' predictions, the primary favorites for the race are the teams from France, Sweden, Italy, and Norway. As of 20:25 on February 7, 2026, bookmaker GGBET listed the following odds for victory: France at 2.75, Sweden at 3.25, Italy at 4, and Norway at 5. The odds for a Ukrainian victory were set at 300. France is the reigning world champion and leads the overall World Cup standings in mixed relays.

The Ukrainian team will see Olympic debuts from 22-year-old Vitaliy Mandzyn, 21-year-old Olena Horodna, and 21-year-old Oleksandra Merkushyna. The lead-off skier for Ukraine will be Dmytro Pidruchnyi, the 2019 world champion. During the 2025/2026 World Cup season, the Ukrainian mixed relay teams placed 19th and 14th in their events.

Results from earlier World Cup stages provide context: in Östersund, Sweden, France won, with Italy second and Norway third. In Nové Město, Czech Republic, Italy took first place, France was second, and the Czech Republic third. Potential dark horses in the Olympic race could include the teams from Germany, the Czech Republic, Finland, and the United States.

Broadcast Details and Competition Schedule

The mixed relay will be broadcast live on the television channel and website of Suspilne Sport, as well as on regional channels of the Public Broadcasting service. The full biathlon schedule for the 2026 Olympics comprises 11 events. The competition calendar is as follows:

• Sunday, February 8, 15:05 – Mixed Relay;
• Tuesday, February 10, 14:30 – Men's Individual;
• Wednesday, February 11, 15:15 – Women's Individual;
• Friday, February 13, 15:00 – Men's Sprint;
• Saturday, February 14, 15:45 – Women's Sprint;
• Sunday, February 15, 12:15 – Men's Pursuit;
• Sunday, February 15, 15:45 – Women's Pursuit;
• Tuesday, February 17, 15:30 – Men's Relay;
• Wednesday, February 18, 15:45 – Women's Relay;
• Friday, February 20, 15:15 – Men's Mass Start;
• Saturday, February 21, 15:15 – Women's Mass Start.

The competitions promise to be exciting, featuring a mix of seasoned athletes and young debutants.

For the Ukrainian team, the Olympic mixed relay represents a significant opportunity to showcase a new generation of athletes on the international scene. The participation of these young biathletes opens prospects for the future development of the sport in Ukraine and helps to increase interest in biathlon among the youth. Following their performances could be a key moment in the rise of new stars for Ukrainian sport.