Simon Eder

Simon Eder was born on 23 February 1983 in Zell am See, Austria. He is a professional biathlete, son of former biathlete and Austrian national biathlon coach Alfred Eder. Simon Eder is best known for his fast shooting times, having recorded sub-20 second performances on the shooting range from both prone and standing positions. His first year in biathlon was 1996 and he made his World Cup debut on 18 January 2003. Eder competed at Junior/Youth World Championships for three years before he was made part of the elite. From the Championships, Eder won two medals - a gold in the 20 km Individual in 2002 in Ridnaun and a bronze in the sprint in Haute Maurienne in 2004. Eder wasn't chosen to join the Austrian team at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin. Instead his first World Cup appearances began regularly from 2007. He competed at the World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva that year. Eder was 68th in the Individual and 6th with the relay. However the following season 2008-2009 proved very successful. At the World Championships in Pyeongchang in 2009, Eder won the silver medal in the relay. He managed 8th place in both the sprint and mass start and 14th in the pursuit. On 29 March 2009 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Simon Eder claimed his first World Cup victory in the 15 km mass start. During the 2009-2010, he was picked to compete at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. The coaches made the right choice by picking Eder because he won his first Olympic medal, a silver in the relay. In the other events placed 6th in the Individual, 11th in the sprint, 4th in the pursuit and 25th in the mass start. On a World Cup level, Eder placed 3rd in the mass start in Ruhpolding. The season concluded at number 8 in the overall. After the Games a sudden silence occurred in Eder's performance. At the 2011 World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, he finished twice 17th in the Individual and sprint, twice 9th in the mass start and with the relay and 14th in the pursuit. Next year at the 2012 Word Championships, again he didn't win any medals and his best result was in the relay - 5th. In the other races Eder was 23rd in the Individual, 46th in the sprint and 34th in the pursuit. In Nove Mesto's World Championships in 2013, Eder's best performance again was in the relay, a 5th position. But in the other disciplines he came 42nd in the Individual, 10th in the sprint, 12th in the pursuit and 18th in the mass start. The 2013-2014 season was an Olympic one. The Games in February 2014 were held in Sochi. Eder won the bronze medal in the relay. That's his second Olympic medal and in the same discipline. In the other races Eder placed 4th in the Individual, 7th in the sprint, 8th in the pursuit and 16th in the mass start. After the Games, finally on a World Cup level, at the very end of the season, Eder won the 12.5 km pursuit in Holmenkollen. Also achieved his best overall finish 5th. In 2014-2015, he placed 3rd in the mass start in Pokljuka, then 2nd in the pursuit in Antholz-Anterselva. At the 2015 World Championships in Kontiolahti, Eder didn't win anything. He positioned 20th in the Individual, 46th in the sprint and made a jump of 34 positions to finish 12th in the pursuit; 19th in the mass start and 5th in the relay. The 2015-2016 season was very successful for the Austrian biathlete. In Ruhpolding in 2016 Eder won the 12.5 km pursuit and finished 2nd in the 20 km Individual. Later placed 4th in the pursuit in Presque Isle. At the 2016 World Championships, Simon Eder won a bronze medal in the Individual. He shared the podium with his teammate and compatriot, the silver medalist Dominik Landertinger. In the other disciplines Eder finished 27th in the sprint, 16th in the pursuit, 11th in the mass start and 4th in the relay. At the end of the season, Eder ended up 5th in the overall, for the second time in his career.