Biathlon: Milena Todorova makes history
This Thursday afternoon, during the women’s sprint at the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof (Germany), it wasn’t just Paula Botet, the brilliant winner, who put in a great performance.
Third at 9/10, Milena Todorova gave Bulgaria its first women’s World Cup podium since… 13 March 2004. Back then, Ekaterina Dafovska came second in the pursuit at Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway).
“It’s the perfect day for me. I still can’t believe it, she said later in an interview with the IBU. My focus was obviously on the shot because I knew the conditions were going to be very difficult. I also think that we had very good skis. I’d like to thank our team of technicians!”
Starting very early in the race, with bib number 2, the Bulgarian stayed in her bubble to sign the benchmark race of her biathlon career. “All I had to do was concentrate on my shooting and skiing,” she says. After that, she had to wait for all her rivals to pass, until she was exultant once the podium had been achieved.
This podium finish comes a year after the birth of her first child. “I’m very proud of that,” she concludes.
- Oberhof: Paula Botet, with 10/10, dominates the sprint and wins her first World Cup title
- “I realise it, but I think it’s crazy”: Paula Botet recounts her unlikely victory in the Oberhof World Cup sprint
- “With the difficulties she’s faced over the last two seasons, this is exceptional”: Cyril Burdet touched by Paula Botet’s performance at Oberhof
- Oberhof: the photo album of Paula Botet’s first World Cup victory
- The full programme for the Oberhof World Cup, the fourth stage of the 2024/2025 season
- Corinne Niogret: my best memory of… Oberhof
- Paula Botet to replace Sophie Chauveau: the French selection for the Oberhof World Cup
- “She totally deserves to go up”: why the team staff decided to replace Sophie Chauveau with Paula Botet for the Oberhof World Cup
- “I can’t ski with the athletes”: Simon Fourcade, coach of the French men’s team, ruptures the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee
