Campbell Wright is set to become the second ever biathlete to represent New Zealand at the Winter Olympic Games, following his selection to the New Zealand team for Beijing 2022.

The 19-year-old Lake Hāwea athlete will compete in the 10km men’s sprint event, and he also has the option to race in the 20km men’s individual, the 12.5km men’s pursuit and the 15km men’s mass start.

Campbell is currently in Italy where he’s training and competing, and says a huge amount of work has gone into his selection.

“Being named to the team is massive for me,” Campbell said.

“For myself, to be able to represent New Zealand at the Winter Olympic Games is pretty special and I can’t wait to get there. I’m not aiming for any result in particular, I’m just going to race to my potential and see what happens.”

Biathlon combines the disciplines of cross-country skiing and shooting: Athletes race around a course carrying a rifle strapped and stop at designated spots to shoot at a series of targets.

Depending on the event, missed shots result in additional time or distance being added to the athlete's total.

"I'm stronger at skiing so I'm working hard to improve my shooting,” Campbell said.

“The trick is not to overcook yourself before you get to the range, you need to chill and get your heart rate down before you start trying to hit the targets."

He is one of seven athletes from the Upper Clutha who has been selected to the 15-person Winter Olympics team; four new additions were announced as team members yesterday. 

See also: Four more Wānaka athletes join Olympic Winter Games team

Campbell spends the European winters training in Italy and competing around Europe. When he is in New Zealand he trains at Snow Farm.

He has been named ‘Snow Sports New Zealand Cross Country Skier of the Year’ every year since 2016 and is the youngest athlete on the IBU World Cup circuit.

Campbell will enter the Games off the back of career best form. Competing against 116 athletes last week at the Ruhpolding World Cup in Germany, he was in 7th place with just two-kilometres to go, when a fall cost him valuable time and dropped him back to a credible 25th.

Overnight he placed 15th out of 107 athletes at the Antholz World Cup in Italy. 

Biathlon New Zealand Chairman Tim David says Campbell is an amazing athlete.

“We've watched Campbell grow on the tracks of Snow Farm and at the rifle range of the Wanaka Biathlon Club and cannot be more excited by his emergence this year as a true international talent.”

Campbell is the final athlete selected to the New Zealand Team for Beijing. The team can be viewed here.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games will run from February 4-20.

PHOTO: Filippo Maddalin