Anterselva (Italy) (AFP)
Unlike most of the favorites, the Norwegian Marte Olsbu Roeiseland managed to thwart the pitfalls of the shooting range to win the world sprint title, Friday in Anterselva, at the end of a race which did not smile again to France.
On a wind-swept track, only four competitors had a flawless rifle, making the outcome of the event very uncertain. And in this little game, Roeiseland came out victorious. At 29, the Norwegian, author of a single shooting error, won her first world gold medal on an individual level, the American Susan Dunklee and the Czech Lucie Charvatova completing a surprise podium.
Everything is going well for the moment for Roeiseland and Norway, which already have two wins in two days after the one won in the mixed relay Thursday.
"Last year at the Östersund Worlds, I had thought too much about the medal and the result and I forgot to do the job, said Roeiseland. This time, I did the opposite, I decided to enjoy the atmosphere. Anterselva is my favorite site. I was very nervous at the finish and I had a bad feeling because I started among the first and there were still many other girls in the race. But in the end, I'm very happy. "
- Calvary -
For the other cadors, this sprint was a real ordeal, like Tiril Eckhoff. The Norwegian, who arrived in Italy with the yellow bib of the World Cup leader, experienced a spectacular failure with a total of 6 marksmanship, sanctioned by a catastrophic 59th place. What made the happiness of the local star Dorothea Wierer, who recovers the head of the general classification in spite of a disappointing 7th position - the world championships also making it possible to garner points in the classification of the World Cup.
For French women, the days go by and look alike. In the aftermath of the mixed relay fiasco (7th), the Bleues looked gray again. You have to go down to 15th place to find the first Tricolore (Célia Aymonier). Anaïs Bescond finished 20th, Justine Braisaz 32nd and Julia Simon 41st.
"It's still a complicated race, reacted Simon, who had leaded the mixed relay the day before with a penalty lap. These are not easy moments but I will try to raise my head."
Like Simon, Justine Braisaz, French N.1 in the World Cup (6th), also seemed overwhelmed by her helplessness behind the rifle.
"It bothers me to miss these first two races on the shooting range, explained the biathlete from Les Saisies, who put 4 balls next to the target. It hurts my face to shoot like that, I’m really disappointed, there was a way to do well. It’s up to me to kick my butt, to take my guts a little more on the launch pad. I’m really angry, it’s me. ”
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