The Main Beauty of Russian Biathlon Also Wins! Scandal with Humiliations Didn’t Stop Her

Russian biathlete Victoria Metelya won the mass start race at the Alpha-Bank Cup of the Commonwealth in Khanty-Mansiysk. She completed the course in 29 minutes and 36 seconds, with two missed shots. Anastasia Grishina finished second (+9.2), and Christina Reztsova finished third (+15.5). This victory came at a time when the athlete is in the spotlight due to an interview in which she revealed tough methods used by children’s coaches.

Metelya confidently passed the first checkpoint without errors. By the second shooting, Victoria missed two targets, dropping to sixth place. However, she maintained accuracy throughout the race, moving up to fourth position after the third checkpoint and eventually catching up to Grishina and Nasotovich. The decisive moment came during the final shooting. Reztsova, the leader, missed a shot and had to take a penalty loop. Metelya and Grishina shot accurately and headed to the last lap together, with Victoria quickly building a lead and maintaining it until the finish. This significant victory solidifies her position as one of the rising stars of Russian biathlon.

The 22-year-old athlete began her career in Smolensk’s ‘Chaika’ ski school before transitioning to biathlon under Yuri Averyanov’s guidance and later moving to Khanty-Mansiysk. In recent seasons, Metelya has shown consistent improvement, with experts applauding her speed and increased stability. Her mass start victory confirms her ability to compete for top positions at the national level.

Victory in Khanty-Mansiysk is especially valuable considering the attention on Victoria following her recent revelations about humiliations, abuse, and cruelty from coaches during her teenage years. She detailed experiences of extreme hunger, forced exercise despite injuries, and financial exploitation. Metelya also addressed concerns about the poor quality of the team’s uniforms, stating her refusal to compete until the issue is resolved.

Following her victorious mass start, Metelya made her mark without the need for an interview. Her success in Khanty-Mansiysk marks one of the most significant moments of the season for her. Despite the controversies surrounding her, Victoria continues to display consistency and growing confidence in her performances, gradually evolving from a promising young biathlete with a model-like appearance to a team leader capable of defeating established favorites.