Biathlon: a timely first podium for sensation Campbell Wright
Johannes Thingnes Boe’s new title may not have surprised many people on Saturday in the sprint at the World Biathlon Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), but the silver medal won by Campbell Wright had a different resonance at the finish.
The fourth American to win a world title after Josh Thompson, Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey, the 22-year-old wasted no time in establishing himself among the best. Already, at the start of the season, the biathlete of New Zealand origin but with American sporting nationality came very close to a first World Cup podium in the sprint at Kontiolahti (Finland).
It’s fair to say that theAuckland (New Zealand) native managed to remain patient to achieve his first top 3 finish at the heart of a global event awaited by all. “I didn’t even imagine I’d be on the podium today. I never imagined I’d be so well placed at my age. I feel really lucky,” he told La Chaîne L’Équipe. I expected to perform well when I was older, but not in this sprint or this season. I tell myself it’s too early, but I’ll take it.
In order to win the first individual medal for the United States since 2017, Campbell Wright worked hard in the final lap to draw on his last resources and keep his place on the podium: “I don’t know what to say. I don’t have the words. To be honest, I’m shocked by this performance. I’m not French or Johannes Thingnes Boe and I’m still human [Laughs] so that last lap was terribly hard,” he admits.
Aware and happy to have been warmly supported in his two countries, New Zealand and the United States, the current eighteenth overall in the World Cup rankings was not the only athlete from his country to stand out.
Twelfth at the finish, his team-mate Maxime Germain also achieved his best career result. The Franco-American was delighted with his compatriot’s performance. “I wasn’t expecting it. It was a real surprise, even though I knew he was capable of it. He’s an exceptional athlete,” he told Ski Chrono. Campbell doesn’t take himself too seriously, which could be a weakness, but I think it’s more his strength. He tries to seize every opportunity that comes his way.
Read also
- Lenzerheide: Johannes Thingnes Boe wins the sprint to become the most gold medal-winning biathlete in the history of the World Championships
- Lenzerheide: Johannes Thingnes Boe crushes the sprint to win a fourth world gold medal in the discipline, Quentin Fillon-Maillet gets a tan
