This time of year, nearly every year, vaunted biathlon coach, Wolfgang Pichler's long shadow gets cast over the biathlon world.

The IBU Biathlon World Cup started last weekend in Oestersund, Sweden, and continues this Thursday through Sunday.

Sweden has emerged as one of the strongest biathlon nations though it has not enjoyed wide popularity nor big funding.  It has been a perennial underdog to neighboring Norway, Germany, and Russia.

Now semi-retired as a sports programming gun for hire, Threshold talks with Pichler from his home in Ruhpolding, Germany, digging to the heart of a man who inspired several generations of athletes to medals, and meaning, in the sport of biathlon.

With Guest Wolfgang Pichler

Hosted by Chad Salmela

Produced by Chris Parr