Biathlon: the joy of Nans Madelenat, silver medallist in the Bakuriani 2025 EYOWF individual event
On the podium of the individual men’s race at the Bakuriani 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival, Nans Madelenat sits proudly in second place. This Monday morning, the man from Dauphiné had a superb race for his very first international bib.
“It’s pretty crazy! It’s my first international race, and I was hoping for a medal, but I wasn’t sure. It’s very pleasing, he enthused after speaking to Nordic Magazine. I’m so happy, it’s huge! It wasn’t perfect, but I managed to have a successful race. I’m very satisfied with my shot because I’d never achieved a score like that before. It was the right opportunity to do it, and that’s great!”
Only beaten by scarecrow Grzegorz Galica
On the mats, Nans Madelenat (18/20) only missed two targets, one on each of his first two shots. “After that, everything started to fall into place, both on the cross-country skis and on the shooting range, he says. It got better and better as the race went on.” All this on a Georgian track that he describes as “very hard” where “you have to fight all the time”.
In the lead when he crossed the finish line, the Villardien was finally overtaken by 14 sec 8 by the Polish favourite Grzegorz Galica, three-time European junior champion last month in Altenberg (Germany).
“He was the main competitor on the list [for the start]. We knew he was fast on skis, but also a solid shot. He’s a bit short, but I’m not far off”, concludes Nans Madelenat.
- The full programme of the Bakuriani 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival
- Anouchka Neuville carried the French flag at the opening ceremony of the EYOWF Bakuriani 2025
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: words from Rosalie Odile, Juliette Oliva, Maëlle Achoui, Romane Ouvrier-Buffet, Emile Weiss, Nans Madelenat, Emile Perrillat-Bottonet and Esteban Moreira before they leave for Georgia
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: Dauphiné Nans Madelenat wins individual silver, Poland’s Grzegorz Galica takes gold
