Biathlon: Anaëlle Bondoux wins a medal in Östersund
In the third race of the day at the World Youth and Junior Biathlon Championships in Östersund (Sweden), French hopes were high in the women’s U22 mass-start 60. The four French contenders had their sights set on the podium.
But on Monday, the wind was blowing hard at the Swedish National Biathlon Arena. Gusts of wind made shooting difficult on the shooting range in Östersund. In these conditions, the suspense was immense and the cards were reshuffled with each pass over the mats.
At the start of the race, it was Austria’s Anna Andexer, who took the lead after an exceptional 10/10 on the recumbent sections. The new world sprint champion even seemed untouchable. Except that she missed four times in the first standing run and three more times in the second standing run.
It was Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, at 11/15 at the time, who took the lead in this world mass-start. The Montblanc native, currently leader of the IBU Cup circuit, was even alone in the lead at the last meeting with the targets. Unfortunately, in a huge squall, she missed four balls and let victory slip away.
It was Sweden’s Sara Andersson (16/20), on home soil, who burst through the door with an exceptional 5/5 to claim the title in front of her home crowd. Behind her, Grenoble’s Anaëlle Bondoux (18/20) also put in a magnificent performance to take silver. A medal she had not even dreamed of a few weeks ago when she injured her thumb.
Amandine Mengin fourth, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin finally eleventh
At the same time, the member of GUC Grenoble Ski won the Junior Cup small globe in the mass-start and finished second overall on this circuit, 13 points behind Italy’s Fabiana Carpella (12/20), who was crowned despite finishing twenty-third on the day.
Ukraine’s Oleksandra Merkushyna (17/20) took bronze ahead of Vosges’ Amandine Mengin (13/20). Despite a poor shot, Merkushyna showed her strength on the skis to finish just off the podium... and 14 points off the overall Junior Cup leader. Poland’s Anna Nedza-Kubiniec (16/20) and Austria’s Anna Millinger (17/20) completed the flower ceremony.
Voldiya Galmace-Paulin (12/20), after her cracking last shot, finished eleventh, while Célia Henaff (10/20), never in the running, was thirty-third.
Full results
The final overall standings of the Junior Cup
The final general classification of the Junior Cup mass-start
- 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
- Célia Henaff, new world junior individual champion: “A first victory, a first medal, a first 20/20”.
- “I’m really shocked”: Amandine Mengin, silver medallist in the individual event at the Junior Worlds and winner of the small globe, wasn’t expecting this…
- Östersund: Sivert Gerhardsen individual world junior champion, Edgar Geny eighth
- Östersund Youth World Championships: Louise Roguet, Lola Bugeaud, Camille Grataloup-Manissolle and Léo Carlier bronze medallists in the mixed relay won by Norway
- Östersund: despite four penalty laps and a fall, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny are runners-up in the junior mixed relay.
- “Even with four laps to go, we’re capable of going for a medal”: the words of Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny, silver medallists in the mixed relay at the World Junior Championships.
- Östersund Youth World Championships: Louise Roguet takes silver in the sprint, Norway’s Martine Skog takes gold
- “I tried to be more relaxed in the downhill, doing the opposite of the mixed relay where I was so stressed…”. How Louise Roguet picked up the gauntlet to become runner-up in the world junior sprint championship.
- Östersund: Léo Carlier wins silver in the sprint at the Youth World Championships, Germany’s Lukas Tannheimer takes the title
- “I never thought I’d start the World Championships this way”: three medals in three races in Östersund for Léo Carlier, silver in the sprint
- Östersund Junior World Championships: Amandine Mengin takes bronze in the sprint, the title goes to Austria’s Anna Andexer
- “I didn’t even know there were globes”: three-time medallist at the Junior World Championships in Östersund, Amandine Mengin will be competing for the Junior Cup’s big globe in the Mass-Start 60.
- Östersund: Norway’s Haavard Tosterud world junior sprint champion, Axel Garnier ninth
- Östersund: Louise Roguet world youth champion in the Mass-Start 60
- Östersund Youth Worlds: Léo Carlier crowned world champion in the mass-start 60 ahead of Flavio Guy and Camille Grataloup-Manissolle
