Sweden hires Marko Laaksonen as the new head coach for the national women´s biathlon team.
The International Biathlon Union announced that Laaksonen is the new head coach of the Swedish women’s team for the upcoming season. A native of Finland, Laaksonen takes over from Wolfgang Pichler, who left the Swedish women’s team for a similar position with the Russian women’s biathlon team.
Laaksonen, 36, has an extensive background from biathlon, both as an athlete with Finland’s A team from 2002-2005 where he was the team captain, and since then as a researcher and event organizer. He has a degree in sports science and sports psychology. Laaksonen has also worked with the Swedish National Winter Sports Center, sanctioned by the Swedish Olympic Committee. Read more: