Lowell Bailey of Lake Placid, New York became the first ever American, male or female, to win gold at the International Biathlon Union World Championship. The biathlon is the only winter sport the U.S. had failed to win gold for in the Olympics or World Championships until now. Bailey finished the 20-kilometer race in 48 minutes 7.4 seconds just 3.3 seconds faster than second place and 21 seconds faster than the 11-time world champion Martin Fourcade. The New Yorker hit all 20 targets only three other competitors managed the same.
At 35, Bailey is one of the oldest athletes competing at the top level. Although this win was the highlight of his championships, he also finished fourth in the sprint, and sixth the pursuit. The three-time Olympian, soon to be four time, trains at the Maine Winter Sports Center in Fort Kent, Maine.
