Biathlon: first U22 world title for Célia Henaff, silver for Amandine Mengin
In her career as a biathlete, 20-year-old Célia Henaff from Savoie had never before shot 20/20. At midday on Thursday, during the individual event at the world junior championships in Östersund (Sweden), she achieved this feat for the first time. Starting with the number 86 crossed out, and therefore at the very end of the race, she had information on the race of her rivals.
For her second Junior World Championships, a year after those held in Otepää (Estonia) when she failed to shine in the solo event, Célia Henaff put in a major performance. With the eighth fastest ski time and a perfect shot, she effectively became world junior champion in the individual event.
She is only the third Frenchwoman to achieve this feat after Marion Blondeau (2006 at Presque Isle) and Camille Bened (2021 at Obertilliach).
Crystal, too, for Amandine Mengin
Leading for a long time with her 19/20, Vosgienne Amandine Mengin, on fire on the IBU Cup circuit since the start of January, was finally beaten by 22 sec 5 and took a magnificent silver medal for her very first start in a U22 World Championship. She also took the Junior Cup trophy for the speciality.
Italy’s Fabiana Carpella (19/20) got the tan, just ahead of Siri Skar (19/20), Estere Volfa (18/20) and Ann Kristin Aaland (20/20).
The top 10 was completed by Olena Horodna (18/20), Elsa Brandt (20/20), Anastasiya Merkushyna (18/20) and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin (17/20). Lastly, Anaëlle Bondoux (17/20) is sixteenth, just a few weeks after injuring her thumb.
Full results
The overall Junior Cup standings
The final general classification of the Junior Cup individual event
- 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.
- Junior Cup: Bresse’s Amandine Mengin, second in Östersund, wins the individual globe
