U.S. Para Nordic Biathletes Close World Cup Season with Podium Finishes in Jakuszyce

U.S. Para Nordic athletes closed out the 2025-26 IBU Para Biathlon World Cup season in Jakuszyce, Poland, strong as preparations continue for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Racing started Jan. 22 under sunny skies on a fast course where Oksana Masters earned gold in the 7.5km Sprint. Next to her was teammate Kendall Gretsch who earned silver. Josh Sweeney also won silver in the men’s sitting race. Sydney Peterson rounded out the first day of racing with a bronze, and Aaron Pike narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish. 

Action continued Jan. 24 with the Sprint Pursuit races, where U.S. athletes remained competitive across multiple categories. Masters continued her momentum with a silver medal, followed by teammate Kendall Gretsch who won bronze in the race. Pike won bronze in the men’s sitting category, while Sweeney and Peterson placed fifth in their respective categories. 

The World Cup finale concluded Jan. 25 with a 12.5km Individual where changing wind conditions added pressure on the shooting range. The weather didn’t stop Team USA though. Masters delivered another standout performance, claiming gold in women’s sitting, while Gretsch and Pike followed with silver medal finishes. Sweeney placed fourth, Dani Aravich placed fifth, and Peterson placed eighth. With the final World Cup races complete, Team USA now turns its full attention to Milano Cortina, using the season-ending performances in Jakuszyce as a key benchmark heading into the Paralympic Winter Games less than two months away. 

Jan. 22 – 7.5km Sprint 

GOLD 
Oksana Masters – Women’s Sitting 

SILVER 
Josh Sweeney – Men's Sitting 
Kendall Gretsch – Women's Sitting 

BRONZE 
Sydney Peterson – Women's Standing 

Other Team USA results: 
Aaron Pike – 4^th, Men’s Sitting 
Dani Aravich – 5^th, Women’s Sitting 
 

Jan. 24 – Sprint Pursuit 

SILVER 
Oksana Masters – Women’s Sitting 

BRONZE 
Aaron Pike – Men's Sitting 
Kendall Gretsch – Women's Sitting 

Other Team USA results: 
Josh Sweeney – 5^th, Men’s Sitting 
Sydney Peterson – 5^th, Women’s Standing 
Dani Aravich – 6^th, Women’s Sitting 

Jan. 25 – 12.5km Individual 

GOLD 
Oksana Masters – Women's Sitting 

SILVER 
Aaron Pike – Men's Sitting 
Kendall Gretsch, Women’s Sitting 

Other Team USA results: 
Josh Sweeney – 4^th, Men’s Sitting 
Dani Aravich – 5^th, Women’s Standing 
Sydney Peterson – 8^th, Women’s Standing 

Complete results can be found on the International Biathlon Union website.