She made history. At 31, Norwegian Marte Olsbu Roeiseland became the second female athlete in the history of the Games to win three Olympic titles during the same edition. The latest, this Sunday morning on the pursuit where the Scandinavian dominated her opponents with her head and shoulders. 11 times world champion, Roeiseland wins a third gold medal in these Beijing Games after the sprint and the mixed relay.
She is ahead of Sweden’s Elvira Öberg (2nd) and her compatriot Tirill Eckhoff for a 100% Scandinavian podium. Long in the top three, the Norwegian Ingrid Tandrevold, 3rd at the end of the last firing point, completely broke down in the finish, losing more than a minute in the space of 1km. Probably the victim of an illness, she finished this pursuit in 14th place.
Delicate performance for the tricolor camp
It’s rare enough to be underlined but the Blues finished a biathlon event without winning a single medal. They were very far from it. Deprived of Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, well behind in the sprint, the French team presented themselves on this pursuit with a duo Julia Simon / Anaïs Bescond. With too many rifle faults, the French did not manage to join the fight for the podium.
From the first shot, Anaïs Bescond commits almost irreparable damage with two faults in front of the targets. The French dragged this inaccuracy like a ball and finished 27th 4 minutes behind the Norwegian. Better performance, on the other hand, for Julia Simon, 8th at 2′18 from the untouchable Olympic champion. Slight halt for the blues after the two bronze medals of the morning, won by the cross-country skiers in the relay then by Mathieu Faivre on the giant.
