French Biathlon Dominance Continues with Gold in Mixed Relay
At the ongoing World Biathlon Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, the French team’s impressive show of force continued with the triumph of Julia Simon and Quentin Fillon Maillet in the mixed relay event.
Following Eric Perrot’s individual victory the previous day, the duo added another gold medal to France’s tally, marking their fifth title and tenth overall at the championships. The French contingent is well on track to match or even surpass their performance at last year’s World Championships in Nove Mesto, where they secured 13 podium finishes, including six gold medals.
This latest success highlights the depth of talent within the French ranks, as Quentin Fillon Maillet retained his title but this time shared the podium with Julia Simon instead of Lou Jeanmonnot. Fillon Maillet, who had missed out on the mixed relay gold on February 12, expressed his elation at the team’s collective achievement.
"These are amazing World Championships for the French team," Julia Simon remarked to L’Équipe. "We have an incredible rhythm this year, perhaps even better than last year, with the men performing just as well as the women. We have a fantastic dynamic, and it’s a pleasure to be a part of."
Julia Simon’s blistering start set the tone for the victory. She surged ahead, shooting flawlessly and handing over the baton to Fillon Maillet with a seven-second lead over Finland. Fillon Maillet encountered some hiccups on the shooting range, incurring three penalties and dropping to fourth place. However, Simon swiftly rectified the situation, pulling France back into second position, just six seconds behind Germany.
The ensuing battle between Fillon Maillet and Germany’s Justus Strelow proved enthralling. While both biathletes struggled slightly with their shooting (each incurring one penalty), their dominance on the skis ultimately separated them, with the Frenchman crossing the finish line 5.7 seconds ahead of Strelow.
Trailing well behind, Johannes Boe of Norway staged a remarkable comeback, dethroning Germany by two and a half seconds to claim silver.
France will have another opportunity to add to their medal haul in the women’s (12:05 CET) and men’s (15:05 CET) relays on Saturday, where they are strong contenders for gold.
Additional Details:
- The mixed relay involves four legs, with each athlete completing two firing sessions.
- Julia Simon started the race for France, followed by Quentin Fillon Maillet.
- France held the lead for most of the race, except during Fillon Maillet’s second leg when Germany briefly took the advantage.
- Boe’s late surge earned Norway its second medal of the championships, after Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold’s bronze in the women’s individual event.
- The French biathlon team is poised to become the most successful nation at the World Championships, having already surpassed Norway’s medal tally of eight from 2020.
