By 1984, Kari Swenson had become a member of the three-woman U.S. biathlon relay team. They competed at the first women's Biathlon World Championships in Chamonix, France. The team was awarded a bronze medal for their performance in the event. Swenson placed fifth overall in the women's 10-km final, a record performance at the time for a U.S. biathlete of either gender in 26 years of international biathlon competition. In 2015, Swenson and her 1984 teammates, Holly Beattie and Julie Newnam were inducted into the U.S. Biathlon Hall of Fame.