# Christoph Sumann

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

## Life and career

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.

## Personal life

* 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

All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union.

### Olympic Games

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

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

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 |
| 2006–07 2 victories (1 Pu, 1 MS) | 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.