France secure two medals in biathlon mixed relays in Pokljuka at World Cup event on Sunday
BySportsbeat
Updated 08/01/2023 at 19:18 GMT
France were the only team to be on both the mixed relay and single mixed relay in podiums, winning the former before settling for silver behind Norway in the single mixed event. World champions Norway came away with the single mixed relay gold but fell to sixth in the mixed relay after starting at the front of the field. Italy came closest to defeating France in the mixed relay.
Antonin Guigonnat of France in action competes during the Men 12.5 km Pursuit at the IBU World Championships Biathlon Pokljuka on January 7, 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
France dominated Sunday's Biathlon World Cup events in Pokljuka, winning the first mixed relay of the season before taking silver in the single mixed relay.
World champions Norway came away with the single mixed relay gold but fell to sixth in the mixed relay after starting at the front of the field.
Italy came closest to defeating France in the mixed relay, as Sweden earned bronze, whereas Switzerland got the bronze in the single mixed relay in Slovenia.
France led at all-but-one of the changeovers in the mixed relay as Julia Simon eventually crossed the finish line in a time of 1.19.48.9.
The French team, also including Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Anais Chevalier-Bouchet, finished having missed just one target, and with seven spare rounds.
Simon said: "It was a really good team effort. Good performance for us.
"I am very happy with my race; perfect shooting wasn't so difficult. You just needed to stay focused on the wind.
"I am happy with only one mistake - a good race."
Their compatriots Antonin Guigonnat and Lou Jeanmonnot could only take silver in the single mixed relay, behind an impressive Norwegian pair.
Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold finished with a time of 38.54.1, 41 seconds ahead of France.
The two were largely unchallenged for most of the race, and it was capped off by a perfect last five shots by Trandrevold.
She said: "At the last standing, I was also a bit surprised so I think I had a little scream of happiness. I am just glad there was no one there to disturb!"
There was also delight for the Swiss team as Niklas Hartweg and Amy Baserga's bronze medal was the country's first-ever podium finish in a single mixed relay event, as well as Baserga's first podium.
She said: "It is our first medal together. We have been doing biathlon together since we were very young, maybe eight years old, so it is very nice to be on the podium with Niklas."
The World Cup now moves to Ruhpolding, with the next mixed relay events coming at the World Championships in Oberhof in February.
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