Ukrainian biathlon champ with expert aim ditches airgun for deadly rifle as she joins army to fight

A UKRAINIAN world champion has put her sports career on pause to join the army in the fight against Russia. Anna Krivonos, 24, is the reigning Junior Biathlon World Champion, a sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Instagram/ kryvonos_anya19Anna Krivonos is the Junior Biathlon World Champion but will join the Ukrainian army[/caption] Instagram/ kryvonos_anya19She is an expert marksman and will now trade in her airgun for a real rifle[/caption] But she has now decided to put down the airgun and pick up a rifle with real bullets in order to defend her country, reports El Nacional. The Ukrainian Biathlon Instagram page posted a photo of Anna which has amassed nearly 800 likes with followers quick to comment well wishes and support. Captioned “Anna Krivonos in defence of Ukraine”, the post shows the champ clad in military clothing including a camouflage cap. With the news shared on Reddit, viewers were quick to poke fun at the Russian soldiers’ expense and cheer on Anna. Read More in World News WEIGHT OF THE WORLD I suffered horror burns & my wife left me - now I am a bodybuilder RUSSIA FURY Russia hits back at 'sick' Biden demanding he faces 'psychiatric exam' “I wish her endless amounts of ammo,” said one. “Probably a better marksman than any Russian soldier in Ukraine. Go get’em girl,” commented another. “She’s just getting some practice in before the next championship,” joked a third. Others were confident that Anna’s skills would transfer well onto the battlefield. Most read in News SCHOOL STABBING Girl, 11, stabbed before school as 12-year-old girl is arrested ‘KILLER’ GIRLFRIEND Girlfriend, 23, who 'murdered young dad' pictured as family pay tribute FEMME FATALE Deadly female Russian sniper ‘with kill count of 40 captured by Ukraine' DAD 'MURDERED' Woman, 23, charged with murder of young dad as family share tribute to him ENSLAVED Russians snatch 40,000 Ukrainians from cities & force them into slave labour BLANK STARES Russian soldiers appear terrified as they are awarded medals for Ukraine One said: “Biathlon is mostly about shooting tiny targets under time pressure after skiing several miles. I would guess that she is a fantastic sniper.” Another Redditor commented: “Biathlon, decathlon etc, are all military disciplines, and most have their roots in the original Olympic games. Good for her, given this situation.” Military service is not currently compulsory for women but Anna will be no exception as women currently make up 10% of the Ukrainian army. Read More on The Sun GOING GOING GONG? Furious Oscars bosses in talks over stripping Will Smith of Best Actor POISON FEARS Abramovich in 'suspected poisoning' with 'peeling skin' after Russia talks Biathlon has been part of the Olympic Games program since Squaw Valley 1960. Apart from the Olympics, biathletes also compete in the World Championship, the World Cup and the European Championship.