Biathlon: the fall of Oslo-Holmenkollen evacuated by Lou Jeanmonnot
On 23 March, Lou Jeanmonnot experienced perhaps the biggest disappointment of her young biathlon career during the mass start of the World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway). Wearing the yellow bib of overall leader that day, she was simply playing for the crystal globe against Germany’s Franziska Preuss.
The two athletes were within a few points of each other at the time, and all it took was for one of them to finish the race ahead of the other to claim the prestigious crystal trophy. In this final confrontation, contested in brilliant sunshine, the biathlon gods were not at all averse to suspense, offering a breathtaking final lap of cross-country skiing between the two queens of winter, alone at the head of the race.
At the time, it looked like the decision would come down to the sprint. Unfortunately, on the penultimate bend of the track, just as she was coming back into the Oslo stadium, Lou Jeanmonnot crashed, leaving her German rival and friend to fly away to victory and the globe.
Turning this painful episode into a strength
Eight months later, as she embarks on a new winter, the Franc-Comtoise has put this episode behind her. In fact, she even managed to do so in the days following the unfortunate outcome.
She quickly got over it, and so much the better,” her shooting coach Jean-Paul Giachino told Nordic Magazine. In Oslo, the outcome was dramatic, but that’s a fact of racing. At the time, the frustration was enormous, and that’s entirely normal, but this experience will undoubtedly serve her well.
The main player involved, a model of fair play, confirms: “I got over it quickly because I was well surrounded, with my family and friends,” she says. Then I took the necessary step back. I realised that I had the yellow bib for two days when Franziska [Preuss] had worn it all season. It’s only fair.
Lou Jeanmonnot must now turn this painful episode into a strength for the rest of his career. An athlete is built on his successes, but also on his failures, which are part of building a career,” says Jean-Paul Giachino. Maybe next time she’ll have a different strategy in a similar situation.
“Self-confidence is the key to performance, so I’m highly motivated”.
More generally, this fierce duel for the overall World Cup title has enabled Lou Jeanmonnot to grow at the speed of a high-speed train. I’ve experienced completely different and stressful contexts, which will serve me well [this winter],” she admits. Everything I’ve been able to do in this fight will help me to achieve even more.
Mentally exhausted at the end of last winter by the dedication required in the quest for a big crystal globe, theOlympic Mont d’Or biathlete regained her strength during the spring before putting her work back into the race throughout the summer.
I’m very confident, maybe too confident,” she concludes. Self-confidence is the key to performance, so I’m very motivated. In February, barring an accident, Lou Jeanmonnot will be taking part in her first Olympic Games, with the ambition of returning to her native Haut-Doubs with several medals in her baggage.
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Franziska Preuss wins the mass-start and the crystal globe, Lou Jeanmonnot third after a fall in the finale
- “It’s hard to get more exciting than this”: Franziska Preuss opens up after winning her first crystal globe after a crazy race
- “She closes the door on me in a very conventional way”: Lou Jeanmonnot looks back on the fall that may have cost him the big globe at the Oslo-Holmenkollen mass start
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Lou Jeanmonnot’s fall in pictures
- “A historic race for our sport”: Quentin Fillon-Maillet on the outcome of the Franziska Preuss/Lou Jeanmonnot battle for the big globe
- “The frustration is still there”: Cyril Burdet talks about the incredible outcome of the race for the globe between Lou Jeanmonnot and Franziska Preuss.
- “For the last fortnight, there hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t been told about my Oslo fall”: Lou Jeanmonnot looks back for the first time on the painful episode of his Oslo fall
- Lou Jeanmonnot’s 2024/2025 season as seen by Cyril Burdet: “The last 500 metres of the winter must be included in the assessment, but we mustn’t forget everything that was done before”.
- “Biathlon isn’t just about sport, it’s also about great moments of humanity”: Lou Jeanmonnot and Franziska Preuss, rivals and friends
