Biathlon : Antonin Guigonnat back among the best in the Finnish sprint
Back on the biathlon World Cup circuit for just a few days, Antonin Guigonnat put in a solid performance in the sprint in Kontiolahti (Finland) late on Friday afternoon. In tenth place, the Frenchman returned to the top 10, a place he had not occupied since 4 March 2023 in the pursuit at Nove Mesto (Czech Republic).
The Haut-Savoyard, who failed to hit the targets on just one occasion, ran a full race, just like his compatriot Emilien Jacquelin, who scored a perfect 10/10 to win his first race on the circuit for almost three years. “For the moment, I’m aiming for the top fifteen or even ten places, and even more so when you consider where I come from, the Morzinois told La Chaîne l’Équipe in the mixed zone. Not even a week ago, I was still fighting for my place in this World Cup team.”
“Fully satisfied to be able to play” against the best biathletes in the elite, the Frenchman also found real reasons for satisfaction despite a mistake on the mats : ” I’m not saying it’s good to make mistakes, but to play despite missing a ball gives you hope”, he enthused.
It’s a fine resurrection for Antonin Guigonnat, who was demoted to the B squad of the French national team last spring following a disappointing winter in 2023/2024. ” When it was announced to me in a rather ‘brutal’ way at the start of the preparations, it was a blow and I was disappointed. I waited to see what was on offer in the B team, he says. In the end, I was able to take all the positives and enjoy myself. I’m not going to lie, it did me good to get away from the A team. I got closer to a lot of the essential things in life with the youngsters in Group B !”
“I feel a little lighter”.Antonin Guigonnat on La Chaîne l’Équipe
A return to the top of the rankings will also allow the 33-year-old biathlete to be at the start of the first mass-start of the season, scheduled for this Sunday in the province of Eastern Finland: “I don’t feel vengeful or hateful. That’s not what drives me at all. On the other hand, I feel a little lighter. I don’t feel any pressure”, he added with a smile.
Read also
- Kontiolahti: Emilien Jacquelin, with a 10/10, takes the sprint and wins the World Cup for the first time in almost three years
- The verdict is in: Emilien Claude and Antonin Guigonnat join Kontiolahti and the World Cup
- “The aim is to enjoy each day as much as possible”: after his podium finish in the short sprint at Prémanon, Antonin Guigonnat looks back on his summer…
