Biathlon: a magical day for Amandine Mengin in Östersund
On Thursday morning, 20-year-old Vosges biathlete Amandine Mengin made her first ever start at a junior world championships. In the midst of what has already been an exceptional season for her, including victories in the IBU Cup, the Bressaude biathlete once again performed extremely well.
Wearing bib 40, she achieved a fine individual score of 19/20, winning a magnificent silver medal.
“I didn’t come to the World Championships to do anything, just to enjoy myself and some great biathlon. It’s just too crazy! I’m so proud of myself and happy to have managed to get 19/20 on a day like this, she tells Nordic Magazine between several bursts of laughter. It was unexpected, it’s so cool. I’ve done so many incredible things this season that I didn’t expect at all, and this is just one more medal that reinforces the idea that I’ve found my place. I’m happy to have reached this point.”
“We’ve got one little problem: it’s going to be very heavy to carry back in the suitcase…”
“I felt really good on the piste, but it was surprising because it hadn’t been that way for the last few days, she continues. I had so much fun on the skis, it was amazing (sic)! On the shooting range, I felt really confident. It’s just that the last shot didn’t go in, but you know how complicated it is to get 20/20.”
Of the nearly 100 starters, only one beat Amandine Mengin: her team-mate Célia Henaff, who was crowned world champion. “I was a bit nervous when she came through, but at the same time, it’s so incredible to do 20/20 like she did. She was too strong, there’s nothing to say, says the biathlete from La Bresse (Vosges). If there’s one person I’d be happy to be passed by, it’s her, a Frenchwoman!”
On top of that, Amandine Mengin, with this place, won the Junior Cup crystal globe for the individual event. A totally unexpected award: “I didn’t even know there was one. It was Claire [Breton] who came to tell me, and it was incredible, she reveals. I’m really shocked and overjoyed to bring her home. After that, we have a little problem, which is that it’s going to be very heavy to bring back in the suitcase…”
Perhaps in the middle of next week, the Vosgienne will have to return home overloaded with other medals… and the big Junior Cup globe for which she came back into the match.
- 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.
- “I’m going there with the desire to take responsibility for my biathlon”: at the Junior Worlds in Östersund, Corentin Jacob returns to international competition two years after his last selection
- Östersund: Ilona Plechacova individual world youth champion, Lola Bugeaud sixth
- Östersund World Youth Championships: Antonin Guy in individual gold for the second year running, Léo Carlier in bronze
- “A real achievement”, “It feels great”: Antonin Guy and Léo Carlier, gold and bronze medallists in the individual event at the World Youth Championships in Östersund, talk about their race.
- Östersund: Célia Henaff becomes world junior individual champion, silver for Amandine Mengin
- Junior Cup: Bresse’s Amandine Mengin, second in Östersund, wins the individual globe
