Biathlon: end of international season on the World Cup for Amandine Mengin?
Amandine Mengin has put in some exceptional performances this winter. She took centre stage in the Junior Cup in December and then, at the start of January, after some superb results on the national circuit in Prémanon (Jura), won her ticket for the IBU Cup.
In Arber (Germany), for her first steps on the B circuit, the Vosges native won the sprint and pursuit. A few days later, she became European vice-champion in the sprint and relay at Martell-Val Martello (Italy). All at the age of 20, and still a junior. So it’s only natural that she should have been taking part in the U22 world championships in Östersund (Sweden) a week ago.
Second in the sprint, third in the individual and fourth in the mass-start 60, Amandine Mengin is the athlete with the most points (195) from the individual races in the competition. Sweden’s Sara Andersson (193) is just 2 points behind, and this tiny gap has major implications for the end of the season.
The French team staff will have the final say
According to point 15.6.3.a. of the IBU’s rules for events and competitions, this honorary title of best athlete at the World Junior Championships gives Amandine Mengin a nominative quota for the World Cup finals scheduled for 20-23 March in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway).
So you might think that the matter is settled and that the Bressaude is bound to appear in the Norwegian capital in a fortnight’ time. Except that the regulations state : “The competitor with the highest number of points at the world junior championships in the current season will receive an additional personal start quota, if his or her federation intends to enter that athlete in the event”.
It’s the end of the sentence that’s important, and it means that it’s the French team staff, led by coach Stéphane Bouthiaux, who will decide whether or not to send Amandine Mengin to the World Cup.
The same will be true of the biathlete who wins the overall ranking at the IBU Cup, probably Camille Bened or Voldiya Galmace-Paulin. Last winter, Océane Michelon did not take part in the finals after winning her big crystal globe on the B circuit.
- Östersund: Célia Henaff becomes world junior individual champion, silver for Amandine Mengin
- Junior Cup: Bresse’s Amandine Mengin, second in Östersund, wins the individual globe
- “I’m really shocked”: Amandine Mengin, silver medallist in the individual event at the Junior Worlds and winner of the small globe, wasn’t expecting this…
- Östersund: despite four penalty laps and a fall, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny are runners-up in the junior mixed relay.
- “Even with four laps to go, we’re still capable of going for a medal…”. These are the words of Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny, who won silver in the mixed relay at the World Junior Championships.
- Östersund Junior World Championships: Amandine Mengin takes bronze in the sprint, the title goes to Austria’s Anna Andexer
- “I didn’t even know there were globes”: three-time medallist at the Junior World Championships in Östersund, Amandine Mengin will be competing for the Junior Cup’s big globe in the Mass-Start 60.
- In the wind of Östersund, Anaëlle Bondoux became vice world junior champion in the mass-start 60, Sara Andersson won gold at home and Amandine Mengin fourth.
