1988–89 Biathlon World Cup

The 1988–89 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the UIPMB (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon). The season started on 15 December 1988 in Albertville, France, and ended on 19 March 1989 in Steinkjer, Norway. It was the 12th season of the Biathlon World Cup.

Calendar
Below is the World Cup calendar for the 1988–89 season.
 * 1989 World Championship races were not included in the 1988–89 World Cup scoring system.
 * The relays were technically unofficial races as they did not count towards anything in the World Cup.

Overall

 * Final standings after 12 races.

Individual

 * Final standings after 6 races.

Sprint

 * Final standings after 6 races.

Nation

 * Final standings after 15 races.

Overall

 * Final standings after 12 races.

Individual

 * Final standings after 6 races.

Sprint

 * Final standings after 6 races.

Nation

 * Final standings after 15 races.

Men

 * First World Cup career victory:
 * Birk Anders, 21, in his 3rd season — the WC 1 Individual in Albertville; it also was his first podium
 * Frank Luck, 21, in his 3rd season — the WC 1 Sprint in Albertville; it also was his first podium
 * Sergei Bulygin, 25, in his 7th season — the WC 3 Individual in Ruhpolding; first podium was the 1984–85 Sprint in Antholz-Anterselva
 * Sergei Tchepikov, 22, in his 3rd season — the WC 5 Individual in Östersund; first podium was the 1988–89 Individual in Hämeenlinna


 * First World Cup podium:
 * 🇫🇷 Thierry Gerbier (FRA), 23, in his 4th season — no. 2 in the WC 2 Individual in Borovets
 * Sergei Tchepikov, 22, in his 3rd season — no. 3 in the WC 4 Individual in Hämeenlinna
 * 🇸🇪 Lars Wiklund (SWE), in his 3rd season — no. 2 in the WC 5 Sprint in Östersund


 * Victory in this World Cup (all-time number of victories in parentheses):
 * Fritz Fischer, 2 (7) first places
 * Birk Anders, 2 (2) first places
 * Frank-Peter Roetsch, 1 (10) first place
 * 🇳🇴 Eirik Kvalfoss (NOR), 1 (10) first place
 * Jan Matouš, 1 (2) first place
 * Alexandr Popov, 1 (2) first place
 * 🇮🇹 Johann Passler (ITA), 1 (2) first place
 * Frank Luck, 1 (1) first place
 * Sergei Bulygin, 1 (1) first place
 * Sergei Tchepikov, 1 (1) first place

Women

 * Victory in this World Cup (all-time number of victories in parentheses):
 * Elena Golovina, 3 (3) first places
 * 🇩🇪 Martina Stede (GER), 2 (2) first places
 * 🇧🇬 Mariya Manolova (BUL), 1 (1) first place
 * 🇧🇬 Nadezhda Aleksieva (BUL), 1 (1) first place
 * Natalia Ivanova, 1 (1) first place
 * Svetlana Davidova, 1 (1) first place
 * 🇧🇬 Iva Shkodreva (BUL), 1 (1) first place
 * Natalia Prikazchikova, 1 (1) first place
 * 🇳🇴 Anne Elvebakk (NOR), 1 (1) first place

Retirements
The following notable biathletes retired after the 1988–89 season:


 * 🇫🇮 Juha Tella (FIN)
 * Ernst Reiter
 * Herbert Fritzenwenger
 * Stefan Höck
 * 🇸🇪 Roger Westling (SWE)
 * Sergei Bulygin
 * 🇫🇷 Marie-Pierre Baby (FRA)
 * 🇳🇴 Mona Bollerud (NOR)
 * Natalia Prikazchikova