Biathlon: the IBU Cup globe for Camille Bened
On Friday afternoon, Camille Bened from Chablais lifted the crystal globe as overall winner of the 2024/2025 IBU Cup for Women. Won after a very long season, it was a real goal for the 24-year-old from Haut-Savoie.
“It’s a huge source of pride. We talked about it with the coaches at the start of the season, and it was a real objective for me, she confirms to Nordic Magazine from Otepää (Estonia). Winning it means that I’ve managed to be consistent throughout the winter. Until now, I hadn’t been able to do that.”
To claim the precious crystal trophy, Camille Bened had to battle hard against her young compatriot Voldiya Galmace-Paulin.
“It was very close for a long time! I’d missed two races [in January at Brezno-Osrblie, due to flu, editor’s note] and we ended up with the same number of races only in the last few days, and I’ve regained the advantage. I’m happy to have managed to take it in the face of adversity, she enthuses. When Lou [Jeanmonnot] won it, I was there, and the same when Océane [Michelon] won it. When you see others lift this kind of trophy, it gives you ideas and inspiration.”
Heading for the Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup
So this year was the right one for the Montblanc native, who was coming off two difficult seasons marked by overtraining and then a nasty injury.
“It was an important winter, says Camille Bened. After a while, it starts to wear on the mind and you start to wonder whether you still have a place. Managing to have a good winter gives you motivation and the desire to keep going! Right now, I’m emotional and I’m thinking about all the work that goes into it, the people who have helped me along the way. It means a lot to me.”
As a reward for her excellent performances, Camille Bened has been selected for next week’s World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway). “For me, it’s a crazy thing,” she concludes.
- The full programme for the second IBU Cup in Otepää, the ninth and final leg of the 2024/2025 B circuit season
- “We’ll have a full quota”: Cyril Burdet confirms that France will be sending nine girls to the World Cup finals in Oslo-Holmenkollen
- Camille Bened, overall leader of the IBU Cup with two small globes already in her pocket, ahead of the final stretch of the season: “We’re going to have to race hard”.
- “I just want to enjoy myself”: how Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, second overall, is approaching the final stretch of the IBU Cup season.
- Otepää: Sivert Guttorm Bakken wins the IBU Cup individual short, Gaëtan Paturel excellent fifth
- Otepää: Susan Kuelm wins the IBU Cup individual short, Camille Bened, third, takes a big step towards the big globe
- IBU Cup: at just 19, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin wins the small globe in the individual event
- “I’m really proud”: Voldiya Galmace-Paulin’s joy at winning her first career IBU Cup Petit Globe
- IBU Cup Otepää: Johan-Olav Botn wins the sprint, Damien Levet and Théo Guiraud-Poillot in the top 10
- IBU Cup Otepää: Voldiya Galmace-Paulin dominates the sprint ahead of Camille Bened and Paula Botet, Gilonne Guigonnat fifth
- Camille Bened becomes the third Frenchwoman to win the IBU Cup crystal globe
- IBU Cup: the small globe in the sprint for Paula Botet, as in 2023
- Firsts for Camille Bened and Amandine Mengin, the boys’ sevens: the French team selection for the Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup finals
