Biathlon: first individual World Cup podium for Camille Bened
Two days ago, in the mixed singles relay, Camille Bened claimed her first World Cup podium. She was on the offensive on her skis, and came out on top 3 after a hard-fought finish against Germany’s Marlene Fichtner. This Tuesday afternoon, in the dark ofÖstersund (Sweden), she climbed onto the podium solo, on only her fourth attempt.
Starting this individual event with number 13, in the first group of entrants even before the race had settled down with the start of the favourites, the Chablais native was at her best. She didn’t miss a single target on her first three passes over the shooting range, before missing the first of her final burst. Logically in the lead once she had crossed the finish line, Camille Bened then had to wait a long time.
For a while, she even thought she was in with a chance of winning. ” I only wish her one thing: that she stays on this circuit and that she can develop among the best”, confided her little sister Chloé Bened in our columns on Sunday afternoon. Among the best is indeed where the Montblanc native currently stands.
Dorothea Wierer wins at over 35… by 0 sec 3
Even so, she is not yet the best, as two biathletes finally got the better of her. First there was the astonishing Finnish Sonja Leimano (19/20). With a very good shot in the Swedish wind and a faster speed than the Frenchwoman, she crossed the line with an 8 sec 1 margin over Camille Bened. The Finn, in turn, thought she was going to win.
Except that old hand Dorothea Wierer was still lurking around. With 18/20, and above all a fast 5/5 at the end of the race, she finished (very) strongly to take victory by just 3 tenths of a second.
At 35 years, 7 months and 29 days, the Italian diva has become the second oldest biathlete to triumph in a World Cup, making an ideal start to her final season and donning the yellow bib, her first since November 2020.
Lou Jeanmonnot and Maya Cloetens with the flowers, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet misses out
Among the other Frenchwomen, Lou Jeanmonnot (18/20) was fourth at 31 sec 3, just ahead of Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg (17/20) and Belgium’s Maya Cloetens (19/20), who achieved the best result of her career with her first flowers ceremony.
Jeanne Richard (17/20) was thirteenth, followed by Océane Michelon (16/20) twenty-fifth, Amandine Mengin (18/20) thirty-eighth, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (13/20) seventy-third and Gilonne Guigonnat (14/20) seventieth.
Full results
C73A_v1- The full programme for the Östersund World Cup, the first stage of the 2025/2026 season
- Caroline Colombo: my best memory of… Österusnd
- “When it performs, it creates momentum”: the relays on the opening weekend of the World Cup in Östersund, important events to get the French team on the right track
- Östersund: Jeanne Richard, Océane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot dominate the women’s relay, the first race of the winter season
- “It’s a great team effort”: on their first outing of the winter in Östersund, Les Bleues have already won the World Cup
- Östersund: France’s Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin and Eric Perrot second in the relay won by Norway
- “A good relay in tempo”: behind the Norwegians in the Östersund relay, the French get their winter off to a good start
- “There’s this desire to go for the greatest medal of all”: beaten by Norway in the first relay of the season, Les Bleus have their sights set on Olympic gold
- Östersund: Sweden win the mixed singles relay ahead of Norway, Fabien Claude and Camille Bened third for France
- “It’s important in a career”: Camille Bened takes her first World Cup relay podium finish in the mixed singles relay in Östersund
- “It’s wonderful to see her so happy and fulfilled”: former biathlete Chloé Bened reacts emotionally to her older sister Camille Bened’s first World Cup podium finish.
- Östersund: Emilien Jacquelin, Eric Perrot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot win the mixed relay for France
- Östersund World Cup: Corinne Niogret’s debrief (relays)
- Point 15.6.3.c. of the IBU regulations: why can the French women’s team field seven biathletes in Östersund?
- “We hope to win the opening individual race”: Cyril Burdet sets out France’s ambitions ahead of the first individual World Cup race in Östersund
- Östersund: in the opening individual race, Lou Jeanmonnot will wear the red bib, Franziska Preuss the yellow jersey
