Christoph "Sumi" Sumann (19 January 1976) is a former Austrian biathlete.

Christoph Sumann
Personal information
Full nameChristoph Sumann
NicknameSumi
Born (1976-01-19) 19 January 1976 (age 48)
Judenburg, Austria
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Professional information
SportBiathlon
ClubUnion Sportverein
Frojach-Katsch
World Cup debut7 December 2000
Retired22 March 2014
Olympic Games
Teams4 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Medals3 (0 gold)
World Championships
Teams11 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Medals4 (0 gold)
World Cup
Seasons14 (2000/01–2013/14)
Individual victories6
All victories11
Individual podiums17
All podiums34
Discipline titles1:
1 Individual (2009–10)
Medal record
Men's biathlon
Representing  Austria
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver 12.5 km pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver 4 × 7.5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Vancouver 15 km mass start
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Sochi 4 × 7.5 km relay
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2009 Pyeongchang 15 km mass start
Silver medal – second place 2009 Pyeongchang 4 × 7.5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Hochfilzen 4 × 7.5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Khanty-Mansiysk 20 km individual

Life and career

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As was the case with many of his fellow biathletes, Sumann switched over from cross-country skiing, which he had been doing since childhood. By the mid-1990s had he entered junior ski team of Austria and later on progressed to senior level. He was a skillful sprinter at the time.

Sumann began as a biathlete in 2000 and would compete in biathlon at the top level for 11 seasons.

His first World Cup win came in 2002–03 season and he finished 15th in the World Cup total. In 2006–07 Biathlon World Cup Sumann won the a mass start race and wore the red bib of the leader of the mass start cup up until the last stage of the season, the fact is quite outstanding for Austrians in biathlon despite the fact that he eventually lost it to Ole Einar Bjørndalen, who thus won the mass start world cup that season.

His most brilliant season was the 2009–10 Biathlon World Cup. He won two silvers at the 2010 Winter Olympics in the relay and the pursuit, being runner-up in the World Cup total along with title in the individual cup made him one of the most decorated athletes of that season.

The 2010–11 Biathlon World Cup was fraught with hardships for Sumann since he caught intestinal disease in Östersund, Sweden in December and he had to combat it throughout the season. However, he came through at the World Championships when he won a bronze medal in the 20 km individual.

Sumann retired from the sport at the end of the 2013–14 season.[1]

Personal life

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  • Coached by Gösweiner Reinhard at the club Union Sportverein Frojach-Katsch, Sumann is a policeman in his homeland. Besides, he is married and has two children, a daughter Lea and a son Felix.

Biathlon results

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All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union.[2]

Olympic Games

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4 medals (2 silver, 2 bronze)

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay
  2002 Salt Lake City 22nd DNF 6th
  2006 Turin 15th 7th 9th 17th
  2010 Vancouver 8th 12th Silver Bronze Silver
  2014 Sochi 24th 20th 12th 27th Bronze
*Mass start was added as an event in 2006, with the mixed relay being added in 2014.

World Championships

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4 medals (2 silver, 2 bronze)

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay
  2001 Pokljuka 12th 24th 8th
  2002 Oslo Holmenkollen 14th
  2003 Khanty-Mansiysk 10th 8th 10th 29th 8th
  2004 Oberhof 66th 53rd DNF 9th
  2005 Hochfilzen 42nd Bronze
  2007 Antholz-Anterselva 11th 30th 15th 7th 6th
  2008 Östersund 22nd 24th 17th 18th 4th
  2009 Pyeongchang 17th DNF Silver Silver
  2011 Khanty-Mansiysk Bronze 27th 22nd 12th 9th 7th
  2012 Ruhpolding 43rd 41st 42nd 5th 21st
  2013 Nové Město 5th
*During Olympic seasons competitions are only held for those events not included in the Olympic program.
**Mixed relay was added as an event in 2005.

Individual victories

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6 victories (1 In, 1 Sp, 2 Pu, 2 MS)

Season Date Location Discipline Level
2001–02
1 victory
(1 Sp)
21 December 2001   Brezno-Osrblie 10 km sprint Biathlon World Cup
2006–07
2 victories
(1 Pu, 1 MS)
20 January 2007   Pokljuka 12.5 km pursuit Biathlon World Cup
21 January 2007   Pokljuka 15 km mass start Biathlon World Cup
2008–09
1 victory
(1 MS)
11 January 2009   Oberhof 15 km mass start Biathlon World Cup
2009–10
1 victory
(1 In)
17 December 2009   Pokljuka 20 km individual Biathlon World Cup
2012–13
1 victory
(1 Pu)
16 March 2013   Khanty-Mansiysk 12.5 km pursuit Biathlon World Cup
*Results are from UIPMB and IBU races which include the Biathlon World Cup, Biathlon World Championships and the Winter Olympic Games.

References

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  1. ^ "Oslo Holmenkollen...End of the Season". Biathlonworld. International Biathlon Union. 18 March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Christoph Sumann". IBU Datacenter. International Biathlon Union. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
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