Lake Hawea teenager Campbell Wright has been added to the NZ Winter Olympic team to contest biathlon events at Beijing next month.
Based in Europe, Wright has previous represented New Zealand at the Youth Winter Olympics, after taking up the skiing/shooting discipline in 2017.
"I liked cross-country skiing and so my coach Luca Boromilili basically just said, 'Why don't you have a go at biathlon' and it went from there," he says.
"I'm stronger at the skiing, so I'm working hard to improve my shooting. 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."
Entered for the 10km sprint, 20km individual, 12.5km pursuit and 15km mass start, Wright, 19, becomes the second Kiwi biathlete selected for the Winter Olympics.
Biathlon sees skiers race over varying distance, stopping along the way to shoot at targets, with missed shots incurring time or distance penalties.
Wright was the flagbearer at the Lausanne Youth Games, finishing fourth in the 7.5km sprint and sixth over 12.5km.
"Being named to the team is massive for me," he says. "It's been a big effort and it's not just a win for me, but a wing for the whole NZ biathlon community.
"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 o race to my potential and see what happens."
Wright's selection completes the NZ contingent to Beijing, bringing the team to 15 athletes.
