The French women conclude their harvest in Nove Mesto in the best possible way! Impressive since the start of the World Championships in the Czech Republic, the biathlon Blues once again distinguished themselves this Sunday afternoon during the mass start (12.5 km). Untouchable on skis, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet won gold, while Lou Jeanmonnot brought home bronze ahead of Julia Simon. With 12 medals, the French delegation beats its record for podiums in an edition.
Not yet crowned in an individual event, this time it was Braisaz-Bouchet’s day. The 27-year-old biathlete, two years to the day after her coronation in this same event at the Beijing Olympic Games and one year after the birth of her daughter Como, managed the race perfectly. Better than all the others on skis, as since the start of the worlds, she was impeccable on the first two prone shots to break away at the head of the race.
A 20/20 shooting champion
Behind, the other big favorite Julia Simon made a first mistake to fall behind, just like Lou Jeanmonnot. Also impeccable on the first standing shot, Braisaz-Bouchet, already world champion in the mixed relay and the relay, widened the gap on the track on Lisa Vitozzi, winner of the Individual in Nove Mesto, to position herself with 40 seconds in advance before a final standing shot, full of suspense.
But the Tricolor, also in silver in the sprint and in bronze in the pursuit, did not tremble behind the rifle. With an impressive 20/20, Braisaz-Bouchet had time to display a huge smile on the shooting range to head towards a final triumphant round. Behind, Lou Jeanmonnot (+ 56′’7) took the best after Lisa Vitozzi (+ 31′’2) to get the bronze. Julia Simon, queen of these Worlds with her 4 coronations, could not do better than 4th place because of her 17/20. Nothing short of another hat-trick like in the sprint, the French women will have made us dream until the end!
