Biathlon Worlds: Johannes Boe received five out of five, two victories from an unprecedented sevenfold

Europe 1 with AFP 8:11 p.m., February 16, 2023

The Norwegian pair of Marte Olsbu Roeiseland and Johannes Boe won the single mixed relay in Oberhof on Thursday at the Biathlon Worlds.

This is the fifth title in five events for Boe, whose Grand Slam dream is intact.

For France, Lou Jeanmonnot and Fabien Claude finished 5th.

Austria and Italy complete the podium.

It is however the relief that Boe mimicked on the finish line, hand on the forehead.

Because a few minutes earlier, during the prone shot of his second stint, the Norwegian champion did not have enough of his three pickaxe balls to hit the five targets and had to perform a penalty round, shortened by half compared to the other races in this format which he compares to a "Formula 1 race".

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Challenging race

His speed on skis, even on a very short loop, and a final flawless and ultra-fast standing shot finally allowed him to win ahead of Austria's Lisa Theresa Hauser and David Komatz (6 picks), second at 13 sec 8/10e, and Italy by Lisa Vittozzi and Tommaso Giacomel (9 pickaxes and 2 penalty laps), third at 51 sec.

Did he experience his most nerve-wracking race of the World Fortnight?

"I think so," breathes Boe.

France, outgoing world champion of this non-Olympic event (with Julia Simon and Antonin Guigonnat), had chosen to rest its executives and align Lou Jeanmonnot and Fabien Claude.

They placed fifth, 1 min 21 sec behind Norway, after a penalty lap and twelve picks.

"I'm really disappointed with my first stint (5 picks). I think that's why we couldn't keep in touch with the lead and fight until the end for potential podium", regrets Jeanmonnot.

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Three lengths from Bjoerndalen

"Lou blames himself a little too much. Of course it was not the strategy to try to catch up (the delay taken from the start), but I think there was room all the same, believes Claude. I don't I'm not perfect on my standing shots. It's hard because we obviously wanted more."

Here is Boe now crowned five-time world champion in just over a week spent in the Thuringian Forest, in sprint, pursuit, individual, mixed relay and single mixed relay, and more than two victories from an unprecedented sevenfold .

He still has to play the men's relay on Saturday, of which the Norwegians are the big favorites, on Saturday and the mass start on Sunday.

He has already joined Roeiseland (2020) and Germany's Laura Dahlmeier (2017) in the most world titles amassed in a single edition.

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Undefeated in 2023

For the moment, and since two mixed relays have been contested at the Worlds, the Norwegian remains the only one to have won seven medals in seven races.

Perhaps not for long, unless the wind often traps Oberhof, announced for the last weekend of competition, does not come to play spoilsport.

"I have been asked a lot of questions about the fact that I helped him break my record today (Thursday), smiles Roeiseland. I am delighted that he is in the ideal position for. If someone has to beating him is Johannes, he is extraordinary."

In the meantime, Boe remains undefeated in 2023 after thirteen races, both individually and in the relay, World Cup and Worlds combined, and his record now shows seventeen world titles, more than three less than the legend Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.