OSTERSUND, Sweden – Russell Currier of Stockholm competed in his first 20-kilometer event Thursday, finishing 79th with six penalties in the Biathlon World Championships.

Currier finished 10 minutes, 17.3 seconds behind winner Emile Hegle Svendsen of Norway. Svendsen had only one penalty as he defeated his teammate and mentor Ole Einar Bjorndalen, with two penalties, by 31.4 seconds. Maxim Maksimov took the bronze medal, 34.8 seconds back.

It was an encouraging performance for the 20-year-old Currier. His shooting got better in each stage as he had three penalties in the first prone; two in the first standing; one in the second prone, and then was clean in the finals standing.

“This was a different experience. I think I was slowing down in the last part of the race,” Currier said. “But my shooting in the last two stages was good. My form is getting better all of the time. I am really looking forward to the rest of this season.”

Tim Burke of Paul Smiths, N.Y., was the top U.S. finisher in 29th, 4:33 behind Svendsen.