Biathlon: Corentin Jacob selected for the world junior championships
Three seasons ago, Corentin Jacob from the Vosges finished fourth in the individual event at the European Junior Biathlon Championships in Pokljuka (Slovenia). The following winter, in December, he competed in the Junior Cup in Obertilliach (Austria). Since then, this fourth year in the colours of the Savoie committee has not had the pleasure of being selected for an international event.
But this summer, the Spinal native made steady progress, culminating in his being crowned French U22 summer biathlon champion. “With the group, it was very tight and we were really pushing each other. I had some very good races on the Summer Tour, confirming all the areas where I’d improved,” he told Nordic Magazine. At the start of the winter, however, it was very complicated and I had 50% weekends with one good race and one bad race.
I missed out on selection for the Junior Cup twice because of that, so it was a bit frustrating and upsetting, especially as the others in my group all went on to international careers,” he later lamented. As there was only one place available for the Junior Worlds before the selections [Gaëtan Paturel, Edgar Geny and Axel Garnier were pre-qualified, editor’s note], I was much more relaxed and very positive. There was so little at stake that I thought I just had to do my biathlon. I think that’s why it worked.
A selection obtained in the last shot of the last selection race
During the selection races, Corentin Jacob, driven solely by his desire to show off his biathlon skills, didn’t keep score… except before the final event.
I knew it was going to come down to Antonin Delsol and that I had a good chance,” he says. Except that I missed three targets on the penultimate shot, which totally changed the cards. The beauty of it was that we both arrived together for the last shot! As I train all the time on the La Féclaz shooting range, I remembered the 5/5 I’d achieved there on intense shots. I filled up the tank and Antonin [Delsol] did three laps and that’s what it came down to.
Although he was aiming for a place in the IBU Cup at the start of the winter, Corentin Jacob, in his final U22 year, is delighted to have secured his ticket for the Junior Worlds.
“I’m very happy with this selection. I’m going there with the desire to take on my biathlon and without any pressure. That‘s what Franck [Perrot, his coach, editor’s note] has been telling me for a while,” he concludes.
- The full programme for the World Youth and Junior Championships in Östersund
- With Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Anaëlle Bondoux: the French team selection for the 2025 World Youth and Junior Championships in Östersund.
- Östersund: despite a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament in her left thumb, Anaëlle Bondoux will be lining up at the start of the World Junior Championships
- After a difficult start to the season, Antonin Guy has bounced back to secure his place at the World Youth Championships: “It’s like a reward for all the work we’ve put in since mid-January”.
- “We had to fight right to the end to get this ticket”: how Alice Dusserre qualified for the World Youth Championships in Östersund by the skin of her teeth.
