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After the Winter Olympics was over, Deedra Irwin went back home to Vermont for five days.
It was her first time home since November. Irwin was able to do a quick reset, drop off some bags, grab some new clothes, and see her fiancé and some family before heading to Finland for the final trimester of the Biathlon World Cup this month.
While it was her second time competing in sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting in the Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina 2026 was its own experience for Irwin, a Pulaski High School graduate.
Irwin made her Olympic debut in the 2022 Beijing Games, where she finished seventh in the women's individual. That is still the best Olympic finish for the U.S. biathlon team for both women and men. Wright Campbell finished eighth in the men's 12.5-kilometer pursuit in Milano Cortina, which was the highest performance this year.
Milano Cortina was a different experience for Irwin than the Olympic bubble that she was in Beijing. She wasn't able to watch other events and spectators were limited to prevent spread of COVID-19 to athletes.
Still, Olympic events in Milano Cortina were the most geographically spread out in Olympic history, requiring a need for six different Olympic villages to house athletes. It takes about five hours to drive from Milano to Cortina.
"We kind of were just at our own house the entire time but there was a couple days I got to go down to the village in Cortina, which was really cool to see and experience that for a day," Irwin said.
But having her family in Italy with her made all the difference.
"To have them physically there and seeing them enjoy the atmosphere and really feel like they get to be a part of the Olympics this time was the highlight for sure for me," Irwin said.
Irwin shot a remarkable 10 for 10 in the 7.5 km sprint Feb. 14. The eruption of cheers from her family and fiancé when she hit the last target will be a memory she said she will never forget. Irwin's parents got tickets right by the finish line so she was able to see them right as she finished in 47th place.
Her fiancé, Olympic snowboarder Robby Burns, had to see a doctor after he damaged his vocal cords from cheering Irwin so loudly, Irwin said.
"I heard this little pocket of incredibly loud voices cheering just for me as I hit all the targets," Irwin said. "When I hit the 10th target, they went crazy and it was just so fun to be able to hear that and know it was my fiancé and my brothers because who else could be that loud and amazing?"
The biathlon remains the only Winter Olympics sport that the U.S. has not medaled in yet. Even though Irwin didn't bring back a medal, she said she learned a lot between the two Winter Olympics.
"I definitely felt more prepared and I think it showed in my shooting. My shooting was a lot more consistent than the last Olympics," Irwin said.
Biathletes race through the course and stop at specific spots to shoot at five targets in a standing or prone position. They get penalties if they miss targets. The sport combines Nordic skiing with the rifle shooting, so it can be tough to get all the components right.
"I had some really good ski days where I didn't shoot well and I had some really good shooting days where I didn't ski well," Irwin said.
Irwin was able to close out her second Olympic games by celebrating all her U.S. teammates at the closing ceremony. Irwin met the entire figure skating team, including Alysa Liu, and swiped a selfie with musicians Diplo and Major Lazer.
Don't expect Milano Cortina to be the last time you watch Irwin compete. She is already eyeing a return to the 2030 Winter Olympic Games in the French Alps.
"I definitely feel like I have another four years in me," Irwin said.
While she is already back on the racing circuit on the international stage at the Biathlon World Cup, getting to the Winter Olympics is a feat like no other.
"It's not just the racing experience. It's the emotional experience with having this pinnacle part of your journey being able to celebrate the communities you come from, your family, and connecting with so many athletes that you know have also been through so much to get to this level," Irwin said.
Between all her training, Irwin is making sure to keep her schedule open in July. She is hoping to come back for Pulaski Polka Days, which she joined in 2022 after she came back from Beijing.
Irwin currently lives and trains in Vermont with her fiancé. She is a staff sergeant in the Vermont Army National Guard and a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. But she always remembers her hometown in Wisconsin and is excited to share her Olympic journey with her supporters in Pulaski.
"The more big Olympic dreams we'll be able to spread and the more people who will know that biathlon is possible even coming from a rural Wisconsin town, especially with the brilliant Ariens facility with the biathlon range [in Brillion], it's just making it easier and easier for people to try and do the sport."
Contact Benita Mathew at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Pulaski High School grad Deedra Irwin recaps Winter Olympics
Continue reading...
It was her first time home since November. Irwin was able to do a quick reset, drop off some bags, grab some new clothes, and see her fiancé and some family before heading to Finland for the final trimester of the Biathlon World Cup this month.
While it was her second time competing in sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting in the Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina 2026 was its own experience for Irwin, a Pulaski High School graduate.
Irwin made her Olympic debut in the 2022 Beijing Games, where she finished seventh in the women's individual. That is still the best Olympic finish for the U.S. biathlon team for both women and men. Wright Campbell finished eighth in the men's 12.5-kilometer pursuit in Milano Cortina, which was the highest performance this year.
Milano Cortina was a different experience for Irwin than the Olympic bubble that she was in Beijing. She wasn't able to watch other events and spectators were limited to prevent spread of COVID-19 to athletes.
Still, Olympic events in Milano Cortina were the most geographically spread out in Olympic history, requiring a need for six different Olympic villages to house athletes. It takes about five hours to drive from Milano to Cortina.
"We kind of were just at our own house the entire time but there was a couple days I got to go down to the village in Cortina, which was really cool to see and experience that for a day," Irwin said.
But having her family in Italy with her made all the difference.
"To have them physically there and seeing them enjoy the atmosphere and really feel like they get to be a part of the Olympics this time was the highlight for sure for me," Irwin said.
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Irwin shot a remarkable 10 for 10 in the 7.5 km sprint Feb. 14. The eruption of cheers from her family and fiancé when she hit the last target will be a memory she said she will never forget. Irwin's parents got tickets right by the finish line so she was able to see them right as she finished in 47th place.
Her fiancé, Olympic snowboarder Robby Burns, had to see a doctor after he damaged his vocal cords from cheering Irwin so loudly, Irwin said.
"I heard this little pocket of incredibly loud voices cheering just for me as I hit all the targets," Irwin said. "When I hit the 10th target, they went crazy and it was just so fun to be able to hear that and know it was my fiancé and my brothers because who else could be that loud and amazing?"
The biathlon remains the only Winter Olympics sport that the U.S. has not medaled in yet. Even though Irwin didn't bring back a medal, she said she learned a lot between the two Winter Olympics.
"I definitely felt more prepared and I think it showed in my shooting. My shooting was a lot more consistent than the last Olympics," Irwin said.
Biathletes race through the course and stop at specific spots to shoot at five targets in a standing or prone position. They get penalties if they miss targets. The sport combines Nordic skiing with the rifle shooting, so it can be tough to get all the components right.
"I had some really good ski days where I didn't shoot well and I had some really good shooting days where I didn't ski well," Irwin said.
Irwin was able to close out her second Olympic games by celebrating all her U.S. teammates at the closing ceremony. Irwin met the entire figure skating team, including Alysa Liu, and swiped a selfie with musicians Diplo and Major Lazer.
Don't expect Milano Cortina to be the last time you watch Irwin compete. She is already eyeing a return to the 2030 Winter Olympic Games in the French Alps.
"I definitely feel like I have another four years in me," Irwin said.
You must be registered for see images
While she is already back on the racing circuit on the international stage at the Biathlon World Cup, getting to the Winter Olympics is a feat like no other.
"It's not just the racing experience. It's the emotional experience with having this pinnacle part of your journey being able to celebrate the communities you come from, your family, and connecting with so many athletes that you know have also been through so much to get to this level," Irwin said.
Between all her training, Irwin is making sure to keep her schedule open in July. She is hoping to come back for Pulaski Polka Days, which she joined in 2022 after she came back from Beijing.
Irwin currently lives and trains in Vermont with her fiancé. She is a staff sergeant in the Vermont Army National Guard and a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. But she always remembers her hometown in Wisconsin and is excited to share her Olympic journey with her supporters in Pulaski.
"The more big Olympic dreams we'll be able to spread and the more people who will know that biathlon is possible even coming from a rural Wisconsin town, especially with the brilliant Ariens facility with the biathlon range [in Brillion], it's just making it easier and easier for people to try and do the sport."
Contact Benita Mathew at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Pulaski High School grad Deedra Irwin recaps Winter Olympics
Continue reading...
