For those unfamiliar with his name, Boris Stanish is an up-and-coming Australian Biathlete on a mission, Project 509.

Boris is quickly becoming a viral moment and a force to be reckoned with. Proxcskiing.com sat down with him to discuss his journey, training in Australia, and his unique approach to his “Project 509” social media campaign.

Chasing Dreams

Can you tell us about the driving forces behind your success in Australian biathlon?

“My family is the best,” he says. “Great training, a huge support team year-round, all the people cheering me on from home, and lovely DMs from people I don’t know telling me to keep pushing. Bonus—I like skiing fast.”

How is training in Australia as a biathlete? And how long do you usually spend overseas?

“Training in Australia is not all sunshine and rainbows,” Boris explains. “People always wonder why Australians are good at certain sports, and it’s not what you’d expect. We don’t have the facilities or funding that other countries do—so we make do with what we have. On the bright side, the mountains in Australia are incredible, and living and training at Mt Buller is amazing.”

This season, he plans to spend about four months in Europe. His season begins in Obertilliach for a National Junior Team Camp, with the intention to follow through with IBU Cups throughout the season. “If you want to see what a full European season is like day-by-day, I’ll be making content throughout the season on Instagram at @bestanish.”

Read More: IBU Cup: Biathlon calendar for the 2024/2025 winter season

How often can you access a shooting stand here in Australia?

“I’m able to shoot every day if I want to, but I generally shoot two to four times per week,” he says. “I definitely have the best access to shooting facilities, with lots of support from shooting clubs and my family.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season? Will we see you in Lenzerheide for the World Championships?

Boris has a unique perspective on goals and expectations. “A lot of people misinterpret my goals for the season,” he notes.

While many hope to see him compete at the World Championships, Boris remains focused on a higher purpose. “It seems like a lot of people want to see me there this year, but going just to say ‘I’ve been there’ isn’t the goal. I don’t want to go there to tick off something on a resume. I want to go there and perform.”

Reflecting on his training, he admits, “I have no idea what to expect this season, but I feel fast. My goal is to go in empty-handed and come out with a stocking full of ideas before Christmas.”

Project 509

One of the highlights of your journey has been Project 509. Can you share more about it?

“The mission is simple—something that 456,000+ accounts have heard over the past two months,” he shares. For Boris, the inspiration behind Project 509 stems from a deep-seated desire to inspire others. “I find it sad to see people doing things they hate because they’re scared to look stupid if they try to chase their dreams. In Australia’s inherent tall poppy syndrome culture, it’s hard to find people documenting their journey toward anything above the mean of people around them.”

“Most people are afraid to put themselves out there,” he continues. “I couldn’t find anyone else, so I decided I need to be that guy. So the journey began, and it immediately found people all across the world. So far, we have 40 people who’ve pledged to do something in the name of a dream or goal.”

The goal for Project 509 is clear for Boris: “Project 509 was always about doing things my way and creating my own path.”

And finally, will we see an Aussie biathlete at the Winter Olympics once again one day?

“Watch and find out.”

Read more: Aiming for the 2026 Winter Olympics

See Biathlon Australia for more updates