Biathlon is a rather exciting sport, so it is understandable why fans are interested in the sporting achievements of their idols. But at the same time, they are concerned about the personal lives of athletes, as well as the salaries of biathletes. How much do Russian biathletes earn? What amounts do their bonuses reach during the competition period?

world Cup

The largest biathlon competition is the World Cup, which is held annually. This competition has been held among men since 1978, and among the fair sex since 1987. The competition is divided into nine stages, held in one of the following countries:

1. Russia.
2. Canada.
3. Germany.
4. Sweden.
5. Slovenia.
6. Austria.
7. Italy.

In each of the named states, one of the competitions is held in turn, except for Germany. On the territory of this state, two stages of competition are held, which take place both in the form of a team relay race and individually. The winners are determined at each individual stage, taking into account all competitions held under the banner of the World Cup.

Amount of prize payments in 2017

The total budget for the World Cup is slightly less than 4.5 million euros. This amount is distributed among the competition participants who compete for the cup championship for four months. The most desired achievement in the World Cup is an individual victory. There is a prize of 13 thousand for it. The winner of the silver medal receives 10 thousand, and the bronze medalist receives 7 thousand. The top ten who cross the finish line are rewarded with prize payments. For tenth place, the competition participant receives 1,000 euros. Almost half of the available prize fund is spent on paying prize money to biathletes in personal races.

Participation in relay races is always paid separately. Prize payments are distributed among the first six teams. For their victory, the leading four receive 20 thousand, the fifth and sixth teams receive 4 thousand.

Before the end of the season, the most successful athletes are additionally awarded a bonus. Holders of large Crystal Globes receive a reward of 28 thousand euros, vice-champions - 23, and third place holders - 18 thousand. Just like in individual races, money only goes to the top ten. There is no single salary for biathletes competing in the national team; their income depends only on the size of prize payments. Biathletes can also receive their money from the National Federation, and individual achievements are awarded by the government. For example, Anton Shipulin received an Audi A4 from the president for a bronze medal in the relay race, while his sister, Nastya Kuzmina, who competed for Slovakia, was awarded a Skoda car by the government for her personal gold.

In addition to prize payments, biathletes receive a salary at their main place of work: the armed forces, a sports club, schools, customs, etc. A separate source of income for famous biathletes is sponsorship investments. Sponsors, as a rule, are both the manufacturer of ski equipment and outsiders who want their advertising to appear on dozens of television channels. There are also world-class stars in biathlon who are involved in advertising. Their advertising income can reach up to 1,000,000 euros per year. But this is an exception in the ranks of biathletes, and not any pattern.

Earned the most last season:

1. Ivan Tcherezov – 56 thousand euros.
2. Evgeny Ustyugov – 28 thousand euros.
3. Anton Shipulin – 25 thousand euros.
4. Maxim Maximov – 11.5 thousand euros.
5. Olga Zaitseva – 53 thousand euros.
6. Svetlana Sleptsova – 25 thousand euros.
7. Ekaterina Yurlova – 11 thousand euros.

Comparison of income with biathletes from other countries

As mentioned earlier, the amount of earnings in biathlon depends entirely on the results of the athlete. So, if someone earned less than they expected, there is no need to look for those to blame. If you look at the general list of foreign biathletes, it turns out that they are not far from the earnings of Russians:

1. Martin Fourcade – 161.5 thousand euros.
2. Simon Schempp – 115 thousand euros.
3. Yakov Fak – 70 thousand euros.
4. Daria Domracheva – 158 thousand euros.
5. Kaisa Mäkäräinen – 158.3 thousand euros.
6. Veronica Vitkova – 88.8 thousand euros.

Comparison with other sports

If you compare biathletes’ fees with the salaries of average residents of Russia, they will turn out to be incredibly large. At the same time, when compared with the salaries of athletes in other sports, such as football or hockey, the salaries of biathletes will be several tens of times lower. The annual earnings of most football and hockey club players are well over a million euros. And there is no need to compare athletes who have devoted years to biathlon with professional boxers or tennis players. For one tournament they earn a hundred times more than a biathlete’s salary for a year.

This can be explained by the fact that biathlon does not rely as heavily on a commercial basis as more profitable sports, since it is less in demand among the general public.

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However, by the standards of professional sports, biathlon stars earn little. The total prize fund of the World Cup (9 stages from November/December to March) is just under €4.5 million. For winning an individual race, an athlete receives €13,000 (for both men and women), for 15th place - €500, the winning team (4 participants) is entitled to €20,000, sixth position is worth €4,000. Plus bonuses - for current leadership (in the overall standings or in the standings for a specific discipline - €750-1000) and the result at the end of the season (the first 10 places are paid: €44,000 for a win, €9,000 for 10th place)

For comparison: the prize fund of the Australian Open tennis tournament held in January was $37 million. The Champions Football League was more than €1.3 billion. So it turns out that Cristiano Ronaldo (with an income of $88 million, according to Forbes calculations) and Roger Federer ($68 million) are regularly included in the ranking of the highest paid athletes, and biathletes cannot even be advised to dream about this.

Frenchman Martin Fourcade, who won the last five World Cups (and two more gold and a silver at the Sochi Olympics) and objectively the strongest biathlete on the planet, received €285,000 in prize money in the 2015/2016 season, and the best among women was Gabriela Soukalova (now Koukalova) from Czech Republic - €234,000. For the Russians last season, the most financially successful were Anton Shipulin (3rd place in the overall World Cup standings, €116,250) and Olga Podchufarova (16th place, €39,750).

Of course, biathletes are fed not only by official competitions. There are several show races on the calendar, but even at the most prestigious of them - the World Team Challenge, which takes place in December at the football stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany - you won't earn too much. The main prize for the winners (and here they compete in pairs) is €28,000 and a car.

However, for Russian national team level athletes, finding sponsors is not a priority. The state budget fully compensates for the costs of training and equipment, and pays very well for status successes like Olympic medals. So, in Russia, the champions of Sochi 2014 received 4 million rubles (at the ruble exchange rate at that time this is more than $110,000), in the Netherlands - €30,000, in the USA - $25,000, in Norway - nothing. However, in addition to fixed amounts from the state, many countries also provide other types of incentives. In Russia, champions and prize-winners of the Games are given cars on Red Square, and they are also paid by the regions they represent (and sometimes one athlete competes for several constituent entities of the Russian Federation at once), and the amounts of local bonuses are often comparable to state ones. In the States, Olympic champions are financially supported by various public organizations, and in South Korea, for example, honored Olympians have the opportunity not to serve in the army.

For athletes who do not qualify for the World Cup (and each team can enter no more than 6 participants for the race), world biathlon also offers the opportunity to earn money - at more modest competitions. The total prize fund of the IBU Cup (8 stages) and the European Open is slightly more than €800,000. However, a successful performance at the IBU Cup is financially more profitable than a failure at the World Cup. Thus, last season, Russian Svetlana Sleptsova, who became second in the overall standings of the IBU Cup, earned €18,350 in prize money, and Sochi 2014 medalist Ekaterina Shumilova, competing at the World Cup, collected only €6,250 (all for relay races).

But even such modest prize money is a dream for most biathletes. Thus, in the RBU database there are about 500 active biathletes of the “master of sports” level, and, for example, only 32 people were registered at international commercial competitions last season. The rest are invited to compete within the country - at the stages of the Russian Cup, the Russian Championship and other races. There are no official prizes at such tournaments, but thanks to success at the Russian level, you can get into the main team or attract the attention of a generous region.

A rich region in the biathlon context, like Khanty-Mansiysk or Tyumen, fully pays its athletes’ fees and equipment, and also transfers salaries as “sports instructors.” “An ordinary biathlete who wins the Russian Cup 1-3 times a season and does not qualify for the national team can earn an average of 30,000-50,000 rubles a month,” Konstantin Komarov, a biathlon coach at one of the Moscow youth sports schools, tells Forbes. - These are payments from a region (or even several), an additional payment for a sports category, a bet in a sports society, etc. Members of the national team can receive more, but rarely the amount is above 100,000 rubles. In addition, the athlete is fully supported. And here a lot depends on the generosity of the region. In Tyumen, for example, they give out absolutely everything - even thermal shorts, but in some places they are limited to a suit and skis with a rifle. In addition, there are excellent training bases in Khanty or Tyumen, plus teams go abroad for training camps. On average, about 500,000 rubles are spent on training an athlete per season - these are good figures, not every region can afford them.”

Martin Fourcade won the Big Globe last season and earned almost 190 thousand euros. Photo: .facebook.com/pages/Martin-Fourcade/164403440240331

1. (France)

188,425 euros

The best biathlete in the world did not manage to reach 200 thousand euros per season, but even without that the numbers look very impressive (by biathlon standards, of course). In eight winning races (88,000), Fourcade earned more than Andreas Birnbacher, who became fourth in our ranking. Almost 40 thousand euros went to the Frenchman for his leadership during the season and the final BHG.

2. (Norway)

152,875 euros

Svensen won half as many times as his main rival, which is why his total is inferior to Fourcade’s. However, Emil’s prize money for second (32,000) and third places (22,000), as well as relay races (16,025) are more impressive.

3. (Germany)

Three podiums in Khanty-Mansiysk did not give Peiffer third place in the overall World Cup standings, but they helped him get ahead of Birnbacher in terms of prize money. It was the second places (40,000) that made up the majority of the fee.

4. (Germany)

The best season in the career of the experienced German was also the most profitable. In five months of competition, Birnbacher earned more than 80,000 euros, while a year earlier, after his first victory, this figure did not reach 25,000. Andi became one of five athletes who wore the red/yellow jersey of the leader, due to which he received an additional 2,325 euros .

5. (France)

Fourcade Sr. is the only biathlete in the ranking without personal victories, but fifth position in the overall standings (10,000), four silver races (32,000) and successful relays (13,000) helped Simon enter the top 5.

6. (Sweden)

And Carl Johan Bergman, despite two victories, earned 12 thousand less than the Frenchman. Success in the first sprints of the season (22,000) and the leadership jerseys won thanks to this (2000) accounted for more than a third of the fee.

7. (Norway)

Tarjei's earnings decreased by 63% compared to the triumphant post-Olympic season. Just like a year ago, his place in the ranking of the richest corresponds to his position in the overall World Cup standings.

8. (Russia)

Of the Russians, Anton Shipulin earned the most. With only four podium races (30,000) he exceeded his total for the 2010/2011 season, and in addition to personal successes there were also excellent relay races (14,275).

9. (Russia)

Garanichev received almost half of the prize money for the excellent Holmenkollen races (22,000). Unlike others, Evgeniy also replenished his pocket at the IBU Cup (6000).

10. (Sweden)

But Lindström did not take advantage of the chance to enrich himself at the second most important cup tournament and received his prize money only for the World Cup races, in which, by the way, he surpassed Garanichev (44,275 versus 40,000).

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The budget for the current World Cup is less than four and a half million euros, or more precisely, 4,246,500 euros. This money is distributed among all biathletes and biathletes during four months of competition. For comparison, the prize fund of the Women's Tennis Association tournament in Miami is $5.38 million, which, even with currency conversion, is still more than the entire biathlon World Cup. But that’s not what we’re talking about now.

The most valuable thing is an individual victory in the World Cup and the world championship. They give 13 thousand euros for it. The silver medalist receives 10 thousand, the bronze - 7. The first ten finishers are encouraged, for tenth place the biathlete receives a thousand euros. Payment of prize money to participants in personal races eats up more than half of the entire prize fund.

Relay races are paid separately. The top six teams are rewarded with amounts in euros. For the victory, the four receive 20 thousand euros, sixth place - 4 thousand. For 14 relay races of the season, including mixed ones, the IBU allocated 882 thousand euros.

The single mixed relay has the same markings, only divided into two. The winning duo is paid 10 thousand, the sixth place - 2.

Season leaders are additionally rewarded for their colored shirtfronts. Entering the track in the yellow jersey of the overall leader is estimated at 750 euros in each race in the World Cup and 1000 euros in the world championship. The same is true for wearing a red jersey.

At the end of the season, the most successful biathletes are additionally rewarded. For winning the World Cup, holders of Big Crystals receive 28 thousand euros, vice-champions of the World Cup - 23 thousand, holders of third places - 18 thousand. As with individual races, athletes in the top ten can qualify for these payments.

The IBU does not leave national teams unattended either. It’s not for nothing that points are counted separately for the Nations Cup. At the end of the season, the winning team will receive 44 thousand euros, second place will receive 39 thousand, third place will receive 34 thousand euros. The last country that can count on a cash reward is the country that takes 10th place. She receives 9 thousand euros.

Having learned the mechanism for calculating prize money, you can find out how much the most successful biathletes of last season, World Cup winners Daria Domracheva and Martin Fourcade, earned.

When calculating, we took into account all performances in individual races, relay races (calculating that the amount paid to the team is divided by four), each appearance on the track in a yellow or red jersey and payment for winning the World Cup.

DARIA DOMRACHEVA

Personal races(9 wins + 2 second places + 1 third + 4 fourth + 1 fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth).

Relay races(2 second places + 1 third, fourth, sixth).

Yellow jerseys(four at the World Championships + four at the World Championships).

Red jerseys(five at the World Championships, two at the World Championships).

Victory in the overall standings.

Total: 230,000 euros.

MARTIN FOURCADE

Personal races(8 wins+2 second places+2 third+3 fourth+1 fifth+2 seventh+1 tenth).

Relay races(1 victory + 2 second places + 1 third, fourth, fifth, sixth).

Yellow jerseys(15 in the World Championships, 4 in the World Championships)

Red jerseys(16 at the World Championships, one at the World Championships)

Victory in the overall standings.

Total: 237,500 euros.

110 thousand for Shipulin and 13 minutes for Neymar: biathlon season in numbers

9 stages will take place as part of the 2017/18 Biathlon World Cup. The season starts on November 26, 2017 in Ostersund, Sweden, and ends on March 25, 2018 in Tyumen. In general, the schedule of stages is as follows:

Stage 1 - Östersund (Sweden) - November 26 - December 3, 2017;
Stage 2 - Hochfilzen (Austria) - December 8-10, 2017;
Stage 3 - Annecy (France) - December 14-17, 2017;
Stage 4 - Oberhof (Germany) - January 4-7, 2018;
Stage 5 - Ruhpolding (Germany) - January 10-14, 2018;
Stage 6 - Antholz (Italy) - January 18-21, 2018;
Stage 7 - Kontiolahti (Finland) - March 8-11, 2018;
Stage 8 - Holmenkollen (Norway) - March 15-18, 2018;
Stage 9 - Tyumen (Russia) - March 22-25, 2018.

30 starts included in the calendar of the Biathlon World Cup this season, of which:

8 sprints;
- 7 pursuit races;
- 5 mass starts;
- 2 individual races;
- 4 relay races;
- 2 mixed relays;
- 2 single mixed relays.

60 points biathletes earn in the overall World Cup standings for first place in a separate race. In sprints, individual races and pursuit races, points are distributed among athletes who take 1st to 40th places. In mass starts - from 1st to 30th.

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6 participants- maximum quota for the season from one national team. For the Russian national team, only men have fully chosen this quota; for women, only 5 athletes can be entered.

Together with our national team, the maximum representation at the World Cup among men will be the teams of Germany, Norway, Austria and France, and for women - Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Italy and Ukraine.

The minimum representation in the men's competition for the Serbian team is 1 participant, for women - Moldova, also with 1 participant.

415 kilometers- the total distance of all races for men in the 2017/18 World Cup season. For women - 330 kilometers.

Season 26 The most decorated athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics, a 43-year-old Norwegian, will begin his biathlon career Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.

4 million euros- total prize fund of the Biathlon World Cup. The IBU Cup has 800 thousand euros. By comparison, the prize fund for the 2017 Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament was $36.2 million, with singles winners receiving $2.68 million. The prize fund of the Champions League football is 1.3 billion euros. Now you understand why biathletes do not bask in luxury.

13 thousand euros biathletes (women and men) receive for winning an individual race. The winning team in the relay is entitled to 20 thousand euros for four.

750 euros- bonus for leadership in the individual and overall World Cup standings (red and yellow jersey). Under his contract with the PSG club, Brazilian footballer Neymar earns this amount in 13.5 minutes.

260 thousand euros prize money earned in the 2016/17 season by the overall winner Martin Fourcade. He became the first in the history of men's biathlon to win six World Cups in a row. Fourcade received about 800 thousand more in the form of sponsorship fees.

Best among women - Laura Dahlmeier at the end of last season, she became richer by 235,000 euros. The best Russian biathlete - Anton Shipulin, who finished second in the overall 2016/17 World Cup, earned €110,000 in prize money.

5 million TV viewers on average, according to official statistics of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), he gathered at the screens of each stage of the 2016/17 Biathlon World Cup.

By comparison, the television audience for the 2016/17 Champions League football final between Juventus and Real Madrid was almost 300 million viewers.

11.0 - odds at bookmakers for Anton Shipulin’s victory in the overall standings of the 2017/18 World Cup. For comparison: bookmakers give a pitiful 1.13 for Fourcade’s victory.

Among Russian women, according to bookmakers, the highest chances of winning the Big Crystal Globe are Irina Starykh- the odds for this event are 101. The main favorite of the season among women is the current owner of the BHG Laura Dahlmeier - 1.70.

999 people accommodates the central stand of the most unusual World Cup stadium in Pokljuka. The fact is that the competition takes place on the territory of the Triglav National Park, and this imposes certain restrictions on the organizers. Tree cutting is prohibited there, and most of the communications are laid underground. Athletes love this stage very much, because during the competition they live on the shores of the picturesque Lake Bled with swans and ducks.