Get to Know Anna Marino~ 19 Yr Old Canmore Biathlete 

My name is Anna Marino, and I am a 19 yr old biathlete living in Canmore, Alberta.

I have always been a very energetic and curious person. This has led me to new sports, and new people that I now call a second family. Born to a French/Italian-American father and a German mother who immigrated from Chamonix, as well as growing up in Canmore, there is one thing I really loved even when I was child: skiing!

My first memory of skiing, and I believe many other Canmore kids can relate, was hurtling down our friends’ driveway with my mom’s hands stretched out at the bottom, ready to catch me in case I fell over. Growing up in this community has allowed me to try a multitude of different sports, but biathlon really caught my attention from an early age.

With Canmore being one of the main cross-country skiing centers in Canada, my parents signed me up for the jack rabbit cross-country ski program when I was 4 years old, and I loved the camaraderie, going fast on skis - and the gummy bears our coaches used to persuade us to continue skiing. At 9 I tried the biathlon program, and have not looked back since.

I love the combination of really pushing myself on the trails, then quickly changing to a more focused shooting mindset. Psychologically this sport is very demanding, however, I thrive in the competitive environment.

Representing the maple leaf was always a dream of mine growing up, and now I am able to say I have achieved one of my goals.

I have represented Canada at two Jr. World championships (one in the US and one in Kazakhstan), as well as the first Jr. IBU cups in Italy/Austria last season. I am currently training with the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre for the second year and am also a member of the Junior National Team. I hold multiple national and provincial titles, and hope to hold international titles this season.

My goal this year is to qualify for the Jr.IBU/IBU cup and Jr. World championships. All of this is preparing me so that I can qualify for the next Olympics in Milano in 2026.

Biathlon is a very poorly funded sport in Canada. Most athletes are having to pay between $25,000-$40,000 a year to support themselves (not including rent, food, gas). A 2 week tour in Europe this season comes to around $6,000 as a result of a $425,000 budget cut to Biathlon Canada. A lack of funds creates a vicious cycle, and makes it even harder to compete with the European nations. Most athletes work part time and are enrolled in a university as well. This is why we rely so heavily on sponsors.

To Sponsor My Personal Journey, please email me directly at [email protected].

To Be A Sponsoring Partner to Biathlon Alberta Training Center please email Elmar Heger, General Manager, Biathlon Alberta at [email protected].

Another great way to get involved and be a part of the team is through our Biathlon Team Building Experience. Bring your friends or your work group and join the training centre athletes on the shooting range to learn new skills in a team oriented environment.

Make arrangements by emailing [email protected].

I will be forever grateful for my sponsors and this community for joining me on my journey and making my dreams a reality.