Mark Kirchner

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Mark Kirchner
Portrats bei der Olympia-Einkleidung Munchen 2018 (Martin Rulsch) 40.jpg
Personal information
Full nameMark Kirchner
Born (1970-04-04) 4 April 1970 (age 54)
Neuhaus am Rennweg, Thuringia, East Germany
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Professional information
Sport Biathlon
World Cup debut14 December 1989
Olympic Games
Teams2 (1992, 1994)
Medals4 (3 gold)
World Championships
Teams6 (1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997)
Medals10 (7 gold)
World Cup
Seasons9 (1989/90–1997/98)
Individual victories7
Individual podiums12
Discipline titles1:
1 Individual (1990–91)
Medal record
Men's biathlon
Representing Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1992 Albertville 4 × 7.5 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1992 Albertville 10 km sprint
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1994 Lillehammer 4 × 7.5 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1992 Albertville 20 km individual
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1991 Lahti 20 km individual
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1991 Lahti 10 km sprint
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1991 Lahti 4 × 7.5 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1993 Borovets 10 km sprint
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1995 Antholz-Anterselva 4 × 7.5 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1997 Brezno-Osrblie Team event
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1993 Borovets 4 × 7.5 km relay
Representing Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1990 Oslo 10 km sprint
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1990 Oslo Team event
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1990 Kontiolahti 4 × 7.5 km relay

Mark Kirchner (born 4 April 1970) is a German former biathlete.

Contents

Life and career

Kirchner won gold in the 10 km sprint at the Albertville Olympics in 1992 and followed that up by taking silver in the 20 km individual and gold in the relay. [1] An out-of-the-blue win by Eugeni Redkine of the Unified Team in the 20 km individual prevented him taking honours as the absolute champion of these Games.

In 1994 in Lillehammer, he was his country's flag bearer and was part of the gold-medal winning relay team. He was the youngest ever triple Olympic Champion in biathlon, at the age of just 23 years and 10 month.

Kirchner came second in the overall World Cup standings twice, behind Sergei Tchepikov of the USSR in the 1990–91 season and behind Mikael Löfgren of Sweden in 1992–93.

In addition Kirchner became World Champion multiple times.

He retired relatively early, at the age of 28, in 1998.

Subsequently, Kirchner was employed as an assistant to Frank Ullrich, the German biathlon male team head coach, with responsibilities including youth development. In April 2014, he was appointed as men's coach for the national team. [2]

Biathlon results

All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union. [3]

Olympic Games

4 medals (3 gold, 1 silver)

EventIndividualSprintRelay
Flag of France.svg 1992 Albertville SilverGoldGold
Flag of Norway.svg 1994 Lillehammer 7th12thGold

World Championships

10 medals (7 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)

EventIndividualSprintPursuitTeamRelay
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1990 Minsk 13thGoldGoldBronze
Flag of Finland.svg 1991 Lahti GoldGoldGold
Flag of Bulgaria.svg 1993 Borovets 20thGoldBronze
Flag of Italy.svg 1995 Antholz-Anterselva 15th52ndGold
Flag of Germany.svg 1996 Ruhpolding 36th6th
Flag of Slovakia.svg 1997 Brezno-Osrblie 43rd32nd14thSilver
*During Olympic seasons competitions are only held for those events not included in the Olympic program.
**Pursuit was added as an event in 1997.

Individual victories

11 victories (6 In, 5 Sp)

SeasonDateLocationDisciplineLevel
1989–90
1 victory
(1 Sp)
10 March 1990 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo Holmenkollen 10 km sprint Biathlon World Championships
1990–91
4 victories
(3 In, 1 Sp)
31 January 1991 Flag of Germany.svg Oberhof 20 km individual Biathlon World Cup
19 February 1991 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti 10 km sprint Biathlon World Championships
24 February 1991 Flag of Finland.svg Lahti 20 km individual Biathlon World Championships
7 March 1991 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo Holmenkollen 20 km individual Biathlon World Cup
1991–92
2 victories
(1 In, 1 Sp)
12 February 1992 Flag of France.svg Albertville 10 km sprint Winter Olympic Games
10 March 1992 Flag of Norway.svg Skrautvål 20 km individual Biathlon World Cup
1992–93
3 victories
(1 In, 2 Sp)
19 December 1992 Flag of Slovenia.svg Pokljuka 10 km sprint Biathlon World Cup
13 February 1993 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Borovets 10 km sprint Biathlon World Championships
11 March 1993 Flag of Sweden.svg Östersund 20 km individual Biathlon World Cup
1996–97
1 victory
(1 In)
6 March 1997 Flag of Japan.svg Nagano 20 km individual Biathlon World Cup
*Results are from UIPMB and IBU races which include the Biathlon World Cup, Biathlon World Championships and the Winter Olympic Games.

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References

  1. "PROFILE - MARK KIRCHNER (GER)". International Biathlon Union. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  2. "Coaching Changes in Germany and Austria". International Biathlon Union . 8 April 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  3. "Mark Kirchner". IBU Datacenter. International Biathlon Union. Retrieved 8 June 2015.