We’re only a month into 2022, and it’s already a memorable one for Leif Nordgren. The biathlete is in Beijing, China right now competing in his third Olympics, and when he returns to his home in Burlington, Vermont, he’ll have another impressive title: dad.

According to TODAY Parents, Nordgren’s wife Caitlin Napoleoni gave birth to their first child, a healthy baby girl named Astrid Lynae Nordgren, on the evening of February 6 (8:55 a.m. Beijing time). Their daughter weighed in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20 inches long at birth. Nordgren may not have been there in person, but he was able to watch Astrid’s birth over FaceTime.

“I’m actually excited to get the Olympics over with and get home, more than anything, I think,” Nordgren admitted to TODAY Parents. He’s been away since November, and though he and Napoleoni are used to long absences when he’s training or competing, this departure was much more difficult since he knew what he would be missing.

When the couple found out they were going to have a baby, they did the math and realized Napoleoni would be due in February; however, it wasn’t until their first prenatal appointment that the parents-to-be found out that the due date directly coincided with the 2022 Winter Olympics’ Opening Ceremonies in Beijing. There was no way Nordgren could miss the prestigious event—he had been training for 14 years and was dissatisfied with his results in PyeongChang in 2018 and Sochi in 2014—so he knew he had to compete in his final Olympic Games.

The biathlon, which pairs cross country skiing with rifle shooting, comprises six events spread out over a two-week period. Astrid was born the day before Nordgren’s first event, the men’s 20km individual race. 

“One of the nice things about biathlon is that so many different things can happen, both positive and negative, in so many different ways, that biathletes are very resilient and good at adapting to change,” Nordgren explained. “I just make sure to be in the moment and stay focused on the task at hand.” With that kind of outlook, he’ll get the hang of being a dad in no time!
“Obviously I wish I could be there and get to hold Astrid but it will be another week and a half or so and you know, then we can kind of start the rest of our lives together,” he added.

The 32-year-old Team USA member’s last definite race is on February 15th, and the latest he will begin his journey home is on the 18th.

Congratulations to the new parents!

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