Biathlon: historic performances for the Belgians in Lenzerheide
Over the past two weeks, the Belgian national team has put in a string of historic performances at the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). The Belgian Lynxes achieved their best ever World Championships, confirming their place as one of the world’s leading biathlon nations.
In detail, only one event in the entire programme did not see a Belgian finish in the top 15, a real achievement for this fast-growing federation. In the sprint,Maya Cloetens achieved the feat of finishing eighth, the best ever Belgian result at a world championships.
Thierry Langer, meanwhile, equalled his best-ever World Championship result for a man with a thirteenth-place finish in the individual event, including a 20/20 in the shooting. Florent Claude from the Vosges took the opportunity to return to his best level with a fourteenth place in the pursuit and seventeenth in the sprint. Finally, Lotte Lie confirmed her consistency with a fourteenth place in the individual race, eighteenth in the mass start and a key role in the women’s relay.
At the same time, for the first time, two Belgians lined up in a women’s mass-start at the Worlds (Maya Cloetens 14th, Lotte Lie 18th), further proof of the team’s growing strength.
“Everyone leaves with a smile on their face”
The team events also brought their share of satisfaction: the women’s relay, thirteenth with the successful integration of Marisa Emonts, and the men’s relay, fourteenth, achieved their best results ever at a World Championship, while the mixed singles relay finished thirteenth, demonstrating the excellent complementarity of the team.
The only disappointment was that the mixed relay, one of the Belgian Federation’s major objectives, finished tenth after a race marked by shooting difficulties. A decent performance, but one that suggests even greater potential.
“Everyone left with a smile on their face, said François Soulié, the group’s coach, in a statement issued by Belgium Biathlon. “We had four athletes in the top 15, an excellent team dynamic and competitive relays. We also know that there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of equipment for the girls and mixed relay shooting. It’s a solid foundation for the Olympic Games.”
Philippe Heck, the Federation’s President, is also more than satisfied: “These are the best World Championships Belgium has ever won, he says. Seeing three athletes in the mass-start is a strong sign. The team is making steady progress, and this momentum bodes well for the 2026 Games.”
- Lenzerheide: eighth in the sprint, Maya Cloetens signs Belgium’s best result at the Worlds
- “I’m very proud”: Maya Cloetens tells Nordic Magazine how she made Belgian biathlon history by finishing eighth in the sprint at the World Championships in Lenzerheide.
- “Everything still has to be done”: Florent Claude, a sprint in Lenzerheide finishing in 17th place that leaves you wanting more
- With a German passport, a place in the European Championships and a base in Ruhpolding, who is Marisa Emonts, the 19-year-old Belgian surprise guest at the World Championships in Lenzerheide?
