He’s unlikely to compete at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics but Scott Dixon is not afraid of putting the hard work in to improve his future chances – including relocating to a different country.
The 19-year-old biathlete completed his first year as a junior last season but so determined is he to step it up again he took the decision to relocate to Germany this summer.
Now based in Ruhpolding Dixon is training six days a week in a group including fellow Brits Marcel Laponder and Kevin Kane, the latter having four Olympic qualifying standards.
All three have their eyes on the one men’s biathlon spot available for Britain at Sochi 2014, although Dixon admits a lack of senior experience makes the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games more realistic.
And, with his stint in Germany running until at least Christmas, Dixon knows there are plenty of opportunities to improve further.
“It’s full on, but it’s brilliant, especially with the two guys in Kevin and Marcel who really help you out,” said Dixon. “They have been doing it for over ten years, whereas I am fairly new to it, I’ve only been doing it for the last four years.
“I could have gone to university or stayed at home, but then I would have been training by myself and a sport like biathlon where there’s lot of long distance training, it’s really difficult to train by yourself.
“So I thought I would see if I could get some accommodation and try and train with these guys. My goal is Pyeongchang in 2018.
“Marcel and Kevin are in contention and also Lee Jackson who is on the Great Britain team too. But until the selection is made, there’s still a chance.
“The main aim for this year though is to get qualification onto the World Cup circuit.”
Dixon got his first taste of the senior circuit when he qualified to race in the World Cup series last year – doing from only his second ever IBU Cup outing.
He followed that up with participation in the Oberhof sprint and two further World Cups and Dixon admits that is the stage he wants to be competing at.
“Last year was my first time as a junior and it went really well, especially with getting experience of the World Cup races” he added. “The IBU Cup is the level below the World Cup and I want to be doing well there to then get on the World Cup team.
“Being on the World Cup team means I can race in front of the TV cameras. My dad [six-time Olympian Mike Dixon] is a commentator for Eurosport and when I raced in the World Cup last year he mentioned my name. It would be great for that to happen more.”
© Sportsbeat 2013