Biathlon: no relay for Justine Braisaz-Bouchet
Just a fortnight ago, it seemed unthinkable that Beaufort native Justine Braisaz-Bouchet would not take part in the women’s biathlon relay at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. But this Wednesday afternoon, the race will take place without her.
Not selected for the mixed relay, 80th in the individual and 62nd in the sprint, the reigning Olympic mass-start champion had a tricky start to the Olympics. Her sporting performances cost her her place in the Olympic relay.
“As we told the athletes when we announced who would be racing what at the Olympic Games, the composition of the relays was based on what we felt during the first races of the fortnight,” Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, told Nordic Magazine.
While “she missed out a little”, Camille Bened from Chablais, “who only had one individual chance to express herself”, shone with a sixth place in the individual 15km race, just one point short of a medal. ” The choice was completely justified from a sporting point of view”, said the boss of the French biathlon.
For the closing mass-start on Saturday, the French staff will once again have to choose between Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Camille Bened to complete the French quota. ” We’re waiting for the end of the relays to announce it,” says Stéphane Bouthiaux.
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