Para cross-country skiing | For his last start at a World Championship, Anthony Chalençon took silver in the 20km skate: “It’s great to finish this adventure with a medal”

Para cross-country skiing: thirteenth and final world medal for Anthony Chalençon

At midday on Friday, an event took place in the small world of French Nordic para-skiing: Anthony Chalençon took his last start in a world championship. Guided by Florian Michelon in the individual 20km para cross-country ski race in Toblach (Italy), he managed to take silver. It was his thirteenth and last medal in the world.

“I thought about it, but only at the finish, he tells Nordic Magazine with a smile. I think it’s cool to finish this adventure with a medal.” In this very long format, the Morzinois set off at a good pace on a track that wasn’t very slippery because of the snowfall.

“But at a pace that I knew I could hold for the four laps because I knew it was going to be a race of attrition, he explains afterwards. At the start, we were in the pack and then the American, who was winning, found himself a long way in front and then we found ourselves in second place when the others exploded. I’m happy with the way we managed the race.”

A mixed global campaign a year ahead of the Paralympic Games, his last major event

For his guide Florian Michelon, the 20km was also a challenge. “Two winters ago, we did the Marathon du Grand Bec, so I already had a bit of experience over a long distance, but this was my first 20 km in a major competition, he reveals. It’s very different from other races because it’s much longer and you have to be really concentrated throughout.”

This runners-up spot in the world championships was earned by the happy duo the day after the huge disappointment of the Open relay, which was disqualified after Karl Tabouret took the wrong track. “Bouncing back like that is so cool,” Florian Michelon enthused.

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However, Anthony Chalençon is not satisfied withthe results of the last two weeks – which have seen him win two silver medals, one in para biathlon and one in para cross-country skiing. “It’s a mixed bag, he admits. We started and finished the two weeks very well, but there are still some adjustments to be made, particularly in the biathlon. We made some mistakes, particularly in the way we approached races under pressure. We’ve learnt from that with a view to the Paralympic season.”

“The good thing is that we know what we need to work on this summer,” confirms the Savoyard guide and cousin ofOcéane Michelon. This will be the final preparation for Anthony Chalençon, who will end his career after the Milan/Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games.

• The full programme for the Toblach 2025 World Championships
• The French selection for the world championships in Pokljuka, Toblach and Trondheim
• Toblach World Championships: Karl Tabouret silver medallist in the individual 10km classic, Alexis Sanchez twenty-third in the seated event
• The joy of Karl Tabouret, new runner-up in the individual 10 km classic: “It’s a huge thing”.
• Toblach Worlds: Benjamin Daviet, Anthony Chalençon (guided by Florian Michelon) and Karl Tabouret disqualified from the open relay won by Norway
• Toblach: Anthony Chalençon and his guide Florian Michelon runners-up in the 20 km skateboard event, Benjamin Daviet fifth