The 1984–85 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the UIPMB (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon). The season started on 10 January 1985 in Minsk, Soviet Union, and ended on 9 March 1985 in Holmenkollen, Norway. It was the eighth season of the Biathlon World Cup.
In Oberhof, the skating style of skiing made its introduction to biathlon. It was somewhat of a revolution as the skating style is quite a lot faster than the classic style. Some athletes did not adapt as quickly to the new style, and some nations, including West Germany and Norway, petitioned for a ban of the skating style.
There was originally going to be held a relay in Holmenkollen, but the relay had to be cancelled due to fog.
New scoring system
The World Cup scoring system was changed before this season.
Calendar
Below is the World Cup calendar for the 1984–85 season.
- 1985 World Championship races were not included in the 1984–85 World Cup scoring system.
*The relays were technically unofficial races as they did not count towards anything in the World Cup.
Women's calendar
*The relays were technically unofficial races as they did not count towards anything in the World Cup.
World Cup Podium
Men
Women
Standings: Men
Overall
- Final standings after 10 races.
Standings: Women
Overall
- Final standings after 8 races.
Achievements
- First World/European Cup career victory
- Elena Golovina (URS), 23, in her 1st season — the EC 1 Individual in Minsk; it also was her first podium
- Andrei Zenkov (URS), in his 2nd season — the WC 1 Individual in Minsk; it also was his first podium
- Pam Nordheim (USA), in her 1st season — the EC 2 Individual in Antholz-Anterselva; it also was her first podium
- Alfred Eder (AUT), 31, in his 8th season — the WC 3 Sprint in Antholz-Anterselva; first podium was 1979–80 Individual in Antholz-Anterselva
- Sergei Antonov (URS), in his 2nd season — the WC 4 Individual in Lahti; it also was his first podium
- Siv Bråten (NOR), in her 3rd season — the EC 3 Sprint in Lahti; first podium was 1982–83 Sprint in Lappeenranta
- First World/European Cup podium
- Kaija Parve (URS), 20, in her 1st season — no. 2 in the EC 1 Individual in Minsk
- Tatiana Brylina (URS), in her 1st season — no. 3 in the EC 1 Individual in Minsk
- Herbert Fritzenwenger (FRG), 22, in his 3rd season — no. 3 in the WC 3 Individual in Antholz-Anterselva
- Valentina Mikhailova (BUL), in her 1st season — no. 2 in the EC 2 Individual in Antholz-Anterselva
- Pam Weiss (USA), in her 1st season — no. 3 in the EC 2 Individual in Antholz-Anterselva
- Sergei Bulygin (URS), 21, in his 3rd season — no. 3 in the WC 3 Sprint in Antholz-Anterselva
- Juha Tella (FIN), 24, in his 2nd season — no. 3 in the WC 4 Individual in Lahti
- André Sehmisch (GDR), 20, in his 2nd season — no. 3 in the WC 4 Sprint in Lahti
- Victory in this World/European Cup (all-time number of victories in parentheses)
- Frank-Peter Roetsch (GDR), 4 (6) first places
- Peter Angerer (FRG), 2 (6) first places
- Elena Golovina (URS), 2 (2) first place
- Juri Kashkarov (URS), 1 (2) first place
- Sanna Grønlid (NOR), 1 (2) first place
- Andrei Zenkov (URS), 1 (1) first place
- Pam Nordheim (USA), 1 (1) first place
- Alfred Eder (AUT), 1 (1) first place
- Sergei Antonov (URS), 1 (1) first place
- Siv Bråten (NOR), 1 (1) first place
Retirements
Following notable biathletes retired after the 1984–85 season:
- Kjell Sobak (NOR)
- Rolf Storsveen (NOR)
- Algimantas Šalna (URS)
- Vladimir Alikin (URS)
- Gry Østvik (NOR)
Notes
- 1. 1 The Aftenposten source gives a bit different scores and places France 3rd, Norway 4th, Italy 5th and Austria 7th. The Sports Book has been given precedent as that also shows whence the scores came.
- 2. 2 This was an unofficial version of the Nation Cup that ultimately would be implemented in the 1986–87 season, though in this version only the individual races counted.
- 3. 3 The Lahti Ski Museum has omitted Meloche from the list of results for some reason, but Aftenposten and the Sports Book includes her.
References
