Wānaka-raised, US-based biathlete Campbell Wright has achieved his best result at the Winter Olympic Games this week with the best-ever Olympic pursuit finish by a US biathlete.

Campbell finished eighth in the 12.5km pursuit at Südtirol Arena in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy.

His result also tied with the best-ever Olympic result by an American man.

After the race Campbell told US Biathlon the last speedy loop was “fantastic”.

“I loved every single metre of that last loop… It was awesome. I love biathlon and I love racing like that.” 

Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (which leases the Snow Farm, Campbell’s home skifield) trustee John Burridge told the Wānaka App that despite it not resulting in an Olympic medal, Campbell’s performance was “a brilliant show of the potential that our young man has in front of him”.

“It is Campbel's best result at the Winter Olympics,” John said.

“Campbell started in 12th place, one minute [and] nine seconds behind the leader, Quentin Fillon Maillet from France. He crossed the line with the same man in eighth place behind the winner Martin Ponsiluoma of Sweden.”

His ski time was the second fastest of the race, 7.6 seconds behind Martin.  

“He missed three shots out of the 20 taken compared to Martin's one. He finished ahead of several competitors who are ranked well above him in the World Cup rankings,” John said.

“He really enjoyed the last lap as he should. Incredible speed.”

US Biathlon called Campbell’s ski speed “nothing short of exceptional”; he posted the second-fastest course time of the day and undertook the fastest final lap of anyone in the race.

PHOTO: US Biathlon