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Benedikt Doll redeemed the German ski hunters
Photo: Michal Cizek / AFP
Benedikt Doll won the second German medal at the Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto with bronze in the individual. After a shooting error, the 33-year-old was only beaten by the Norwegian brothers Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø. Both also had one penalty minute each.
One day after the surprising silver for Janina Hettich-Walz among the women, Doll also provided the hoped-for redemption for the men of the German Ski Association with the second individual World Cup medal of his career. After 20 kilometers, Doll finished 1:53.2 minutes behind the old and new champion Bø.
Bø in Bjørndalen's footsteps
The Scandinavian defended his title and also won the 19th World Championship gold of his career. It was his second triumph in the Czech Republic. Now Bø is just one title away from catching up with record world champion Ole Einar Bjørndalen. Even a shooting mistake couldn't stop the dominator; only his older brother Tarjei, who also made a mistake, came close. The Norwegians had previously celebrated a triple success in the sprint and a five-fold triumph in the chase race. Doll became the first non-Norwegian to win an individual medal in Nove Mesto.
“I’m incredibly proud that I stayed so cool at the shooting range,” said Doll on ZDF after the race. A lot came together, especially mentally: "I didn't go to the shooting range and be afraid, but I had fun and joy."
In 2017, Doll sensationally won World Championship gold in Hochfilzen, spectacularly winning the sprint by just 0.7 seconds ahead of Bø. This was followed by five more career victories - the last two of which came this season. He triumphed over ten kilometers in both Lenzerheide and Oberhof.
The German ski hunters of national coach Uros Velepec have two more chances this weekend in the relay and in the final mass start. In Oberhof last year, the men remained without a medal in World Championship races for the first time since 1976.
cev/dpa