20 kilometres, Men

A new biathlon star had emerged at the 1978 World Championships. East Germany’s 20-year-old Frank Ullrich won gold medals in the 10 km sprint and relay, and in addition, won silver in the 20 km. At the 1979 World Championships he added two more gold medals to his collection, again winning the 10 km sprint and as a member of the winning East German relay team. Completing the East German team in Lake Placid were the reigning World Champion at 20 km, Klaus Siebert and Eberhard Rösch, with two individual medals from the 1978 World Championships.

At the first shooting range, a Soviet newcomer, 28-year-old Anatoly Alyabyev from Arkhangelsk had taken the lead, three seconds ahead of the Finn Erkki Antila. The East Germans started badly. Ullrich had one penalty minute and was 33 seconds behind the leader, and Siebert and Rösch were far behind, with two penalty minutes each. After the second shooting round, where both Alyabyev and Ullrich had perfect series, Ullrich took the lead, just one second ahead of Alyabyev. At the third shooting range, the surprising Alyabyev had another perfect shooting and regained the lead, 19 seconds ahead of Ullrich, who had another penalty minute. Ullrich was the fastest skier of the day, and when he arrived at the last shooting range he still had good chances for an Olympic gold. He again had a penalty minute, but Alyabyev, starting five minutes behind Ullrich, had to make his fourth perfect shooting round to challenge Ullrich for the gold. And he did, leaving the last range with a ½-minute lead over the East German. Alyabyev hung on and won the gold medal, just 11 seconds ahead of the fast finishing Ullrich. Rösch, who started so badly, had advanced steadily during the race with three perfect shooting rounds and finished as the bronze medalist, almost three minutes behind the winner.