Biathlon: Corinne Niogret, forever first
Although biathlon has won a string of individual world gold medals since the early 2000s, thanks to Raphaël Poirée, Julia Simon, Martin Fourcade, Sandrine Bailly, Marie Dorin-Habert, Emilien Jacquelin, Sylvie Becaert and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, the first was in 1995.
AtAntholz (Italy), Les Bleus even had an incredible World Championship. On 16 February 1995, just over 30 years ago to the day, Corinne Niogret became the first ever French world champion in the individual event.
Also a bronze medallist in the sprint and twice a medallist in the team events, the Aindinoise had an exceptional week. “I was on cloud nine, she told Nordic Magazine a few weeks ago. I won four medals in four races. My legs never hurt, and my skiing was incredible in the individual event even though it was snowing. Everything went well!”
This edition of the world championships was also very emotional for the entire group, orphaned by the death of David Moretti in the spring of 1994. “I think we all wanted to do something for him. We all had in the back of our minds this desire to pay tribute to David [Moretti] for our first year without him, says Corinne Niogret, still moved three decades later. He had been in biathlon for a while, he believed in it, he was the director of the French teams. My whole generation owes something to David [Moretti].”
Two days after Corinne Niogret‘s triumph, Patrice Bailly-Salins and Anne Briand also became world champions, in the sprint. France finished the competition at the top of the medals table with eight medals.
