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Biathletes Cheyenne Tirschmann and Cole Germain earned a bronze in the mixed biathlon relay at the 2023 Canada Winter Games Friday. It was Yukon鈥檚 first medal of the Games.

Germain said it felt 鈥減retty great.鈥�

Tirschmann added, 鈥淚t was a great feeling.鈥�

Germain said the win wasn鈥檛 completely unexpected.

鈥淚 would say kind of unexpected, but not like it wasn鈥檛 completely out of the question.

鈥淚 think both of us had pretty good races leading up to it. And then together we managed to put it together.鈥�

Tirschmann attributed their bronze-winning race to 鈥渙ur awesome coaches, wax technician. Teammates that were out there cheering for us.鈥�

Germain added, 鈥淥ur entire team was on the side of the trail with cowbells and just screaming their heads off, getting us to go faster.鈥�

The race day conditions were not the best.

鈥淚t was quite a snowy day,鈥� related Germain. 鈥淚t was pretty blustery. It was actually kind of a blizzard. And it was pretty windy, which was I guess the hardest part, on top of the snow. But other than that, it was pretty fast.鈥�

鈥淭here was new snow and the trails were kind of chewed up from everybody skiing on them. But it was still fast,鈥� added Tirschmann.

鈥淎nd we had fast skis as well, which certainly helped,鈥� added Germain.

Tirschmann said it was really close at the end.

鈥淚 feel like one more target probably would have been silver position for us, if one of us had hit one more.鈥�

Their margin of victory was 5.5 seconds.

鈥淎lthough the difference between us and position four was more significant, for sure,鈥� said Germain.

As far as their shooting prowess went, Tirschmann said, 鈥淚 hit 17 out of 20. But you have to keep in mind that because of the relay format, you get three spare bullets every time you shoot, on top of the normal five and five targets that really gave me an advantage on the shooting part.鈥�

Germain added that his shooting wasn鈥檛 as good as he鈥檚 used to.

鈥淏ut again, I kind of attribute it to the conditions.鈥�

Germain said the wind was a factor on the shooting range.

鈥淭he hard part was that it was really swirling in the range. So normally if it鈥檚 a nice, consistent breeze, we can adjust our sights to compensate. But when it鈥檚 swirling like that, and it鈥檚 gusting, then it鈥檚 really hard to anticipate it. (Overall shooting still wasn鈥檛 too too bad. I guess in comparison to how it could have gone.鈥�)

Regarding their bronze-medal-winning race, Tirschmann added, 鈥淚t was really fun; relay is such a fun format. And then with our team out there cheering for us, it was awesome.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 really just like a big family out there,鈥� said Germain. 鈥淲e all know each other from different events that we鈥檝e done throughout the years across the country. Everyone鈥檚 congratulating everybody and it鈥檚 really just a super social and happy event.鈥�

On Saturday, Tirschmann and Germain stowed their skis and became a cheering section for their teammates.

鈥淲e were a dedicated cheer squad,鈥� recalled Germain. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 super exciting. The relays are very, very fast, chaotic and exciting to watch. Our teammates did great. They shot well and they skied fast.鈥�

Germain said their biathlon success 鈥渄efinitely鈥� gave them confidence going into this week.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e both held at the same venue on the same trails. So it kind of gives you that little bit of a home-court advantage because you鈥檝e already raced on them and you鈥檝e been there for a week. But I know there鈥檚 some fast people out there, for sure.鈥�

Tirschmann added, 鈥淚 know where the trails will be softer. I know where I can push. I know where the wind will be affecting how fast I go. So that is definitely an advantage you have.

鈥淏ut the skiers here, they鈥檙e all so fast, it鈥檚 pretty insane. But I鈥檓 excited to meet them and have fun and race against them.鈥�

Germain has raced at biathlon and cross country nationals and Trischmann has raced at cross country ski nationals.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e a very similar level and a lot of the same people are competing,鈥� said Germain.

The biathlon team has formed new friendships and renewed old ones during these Games.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just really nice to get to see them again,鈥� said Tirschmann.

鈥淏eing here in the village and just being able to hang out with everybody all the time is just such a good atmosphere,鈥� said Germain.

He added 鈥淚鈥檓 just excited for what this next week has to offer.鈥�

Tirschmann added she鈥檚 鈥渞eally hyped to get back on the skis again.鈥�