International biathlon went on vacation until the end of November 2024. The World Cup season is over: nine stages, 70 races and almost three dozen gold medals. We marveled at the German team’s breakthrough and Johannes Boe’s failure in Östersund, followed the intense fight for BHG in Canmore and admired the French women’s team.
Now it is time to summarize the main results.
Five times
The finished biathlon season was triumphant for Johannes Boe. But the Norwegian started very badly. The failure in the Östersund stage is like a slap in the face. Did he, with that title, give in? Johannes himself said that he hoped for a better start for him. But little by little the situation began to improve and in Hochfilzen the Norwegian achieved his first victory of the season.
Johannes Boé
Photo: Getty Images
He had 11 of them, eight less than the previous season. Yes, Boe Jr. seemed less stable this time. His speed sometimes unpleasantly surprised Norwegian fans. And defeating Johannes Boe is now quite possible. The only exception was the final stage in Canmore, where the Norwegian scored a hat-trick. These were demonstration performances. In the class he took home the fifth “Great Crystal Globe” of his career. In fact, the fight with the older brother did not work.
At the age of 30, Johannes Boe equaled the number of medals and surpassed Martin Fourcade in victories at the World Cup stages (85 victories against 83 for the Frenchman). And the best here is still Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (95). Who knows, maybe next season Yosya will really become the greatest.
Can anyone argue that Johannes Boe is really great? Surrender!
He is a legend. Johannes Boe won the Big Crystal Globe for the fifth time in his career
Came out of the shadows
The most important gestalt of biathlon is closed: Lisa Vittozzi won the World Cup in the last race. Oh, what a struggle the girls had!
The Italian’s main rival was Ingrid Tandrevold. The Norwegian understood that she still did not deserve to be the best in the world. The disastrous World Cup and psychological instability clearly worked against her. But until the penultimate race of the World Championship she was the leader. And only the day before the end of the season she gave up the first line of the total. But another person fulfilled her dream.
Lisa Vittozzi
Photo: Getty Images
Yes, Lisa Vittozzi cried at the finish line of the mass start. For many years she remained in the shadow of Dorothea Wierer. In the 2018/2019 season, it was Doro who surpassed Lisa in the overall standings, leaving her teammate in second place. Then Vittozzi was even further away from the title. In the 2021/2022 season she finished in 31st position, and last season she placed third. In her career there are only two golds in world championships and 10 silver and bronze medals.
And now Lisa is the leader of the Italian team and the best in the world. You can only learn from her resilience and perseverance. She hasn’t won in important competitions for many years. But this season she finally became the first.
Vittozzi had been waiting for this win for a long time!
“I used to feel like I was wandering in a fog.” A new world star suddenly appeared in biathlon
France – at the peak of glory
The French team has taken power in the women’s world biathlon. Julia Simon, Justine Brézat-Boucher and Lou Jeanmonnot won 32 medals between them!
The protagonist of this biathlon concert was Julia Simon, who participated brilliantly in the World Championship, winning four golds and a bronze. And this after a difficult summer: accusations of fraud, absence from training camps and a criminal investigation – this is what one of the best biathletes of the season faced. December started nervously for Julia, but then the quick and vivacious Frenchwoman picked up her pace. She would have gone on to claim the second BHG title of her career, but the gaps in her preparation made themselves felt. And yet, the main start of the season took place under her name.
Julia Simon
Photo: Getty Images
At the World Championships in Nove Mesto, the tricolor team won nine individual awards. Among those who distinguished themselves, we highlight Justine Brezat-Boucher. She became world champion in mass start, relay and mixed doubles.
But Lou Jeanmonneau was the highest in the World Cup total. This Frenchwoman began to show herself last season, but his first big successes came now. If we look at the statistics, we will see: first places in the sprint chase in Östersund, chase in Soldier Hollow and mass start in Canmore. As a result, a third place in the overall classification and two gold medals at the World Championships (victories in mixed relays and singles).
Yes, women’s biathlon in France is experiencing better times. Cyril Bourdet’s players are like emeralds. Each one is beautiful in its own way.
Julia Simone is a true fighter. And that’s why:
“I’m living the dream now.” How a “criminal” became the heroine of the Biathlon World Championships
Norway – dominator
In the men’s biathlon the dominance of the Norwegian team was finally established. If last season the Norwegians occupied only the first three places, now they occupy five first places.
We all remember how in January Vetle Shost Christiansen passed over Oberhof due to high competition. Instead of the titled Vetle, Johan-Olav Botn went to the sacred place of biathlon. But Ruhpolding Christiansen was brought back into the team and there was no more rust behind him. Two victories and silver: a response to the actions of Siegfried Maze.
Vetle Sosta Christiansen
Photo: Getty Images
This episode simply illustrates the crazy competition in Norway. If in the case of women there is a slight decrease, then the quota of six athletes for shooting skiers is clearly small. Eight biathletes in the top 30. Fantastic!
Many will say that Norwegian dominance is a bad thing. We disagree, because the key to this team’s success lies in it. And in general, in terms of the diversity of winners of individual races at the stages of the World Cup, men’s biathlon has surpassed women’s. 11 against 7.
What is the Norwegian bench like?
The Norwegians have conquered biathlon. Why won’t they have any competitors in the next 10 years?
Still green, but already bold and lively.
This season new biathlon stars were born.
One of the most notable people was the Frenchman Eric Perrault. At 22 years old, the athlete has already become world champion in the mixed relay. And a month later, at Soldier Hollow, he won his first personal World Cup gold. He had no equal in the sprint on American soil.
His compatriot, Jeanne Richard, 21, can also be included among those who have proven themselves. Her debut took place on the Oberhof stage. It was noisy. First, Richard took eighth place in the sprint, and then ninth in the pursuit. If it weren’t for two mistakes, the first medal could have come. But her success came in Ruhpolding. Zhanna ran the second leg of the relay and helped the team win the race.
Eric Perrault
Photo: Getty Images
Beautiful and intelligent. That good is! This is Anna Gandler. The 23-year-old Austrian biathlete is only competing in her second season at the World Cup. And the last five races of the 2023/2024 season did not leave the top ten at all. Her best result so far is fifth place in the mass start in Canmore. But now Gandler is the leader of the Austrian team. Lisa Teresa Houser doesn’t look good.
And, of course, the Norwegians, who have already been talked about a lot. The advances to first place by Johan-Olav Botón or Juni Arnekleiv no longer surprise anyone. And Strömsheim himself is perceived as a seasoned and experienced fighter. But there is no doubt that the main victories of these guys are still ahead.
Eric Perrault and Johan-Olav Botn are already on the podium!
“This is a dream come true.” The 22-year-old Frenchman caused a sensation at the Biathlon World Cup
