Julia Simon only missed one shot to enter a little more into the history of biathlon.
Author of an error on her last shot during the individual World Championships organized this Tuesday in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic), the Frenchwoman came very close to a fourth gold medal in four races, after the relay mixed, sprint and pursuit.
But the Italian Lisa Vittozzi and the German Janina Hettich-Walz, imperial in shooting, beat her.
“A ball is missing,” she admitted on the microphone of La Chaine L’Équipe after the race.
There are 19 inside but we're going to tell me about the one outside.
I may have gotten a little carried away on the last shot, but I had great fun playing in front, being able to fight for a medal.
I’m very happy to be able to stay on this podium.”
Also read “I have a good face when I have to go”: Julia Simon, queen of biathlon and strong head
Leading with more than 25 seconds ahead of her opponents after the third shot, Julia Simon came very close to becoming the most successful French biathlete in history at the Worlds.
But its consistency remains exceptional at this level.
“I really have no regrets,” she continued.
This error is not a question of commitment, it is a question of synchronization.
(…) I played my biathlon, it remains a medal at the World Championships, I can only appreciate that.
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Vittozzi, a format specialist
Especially since the race format suits the winner of the day particularly well.
Bronze medalist in this same event in 2023, Lisa Vittozzi also won the small crystal globe of the specialty last winter.
This winter, she won in this format during the World Cup stage in Ostersund.
For Julia Simon, we will still have to persevere because until now, neither in the World Championships nor in the World Cup, the biathlete from Les Saisies has managed to achieve a victory in this format.
“I've already done it in the IBU Cup (
the division below the World Cup
), she retorted with a smile at the microphone of La Chaine L'Équipe.
But yes, the individual is funny because it's also the race where I made my first podium even though it wasn't originally a race that was made for me.
I also have fun in these races and I think that's where I also learned a lot about my race management and my management of emotions.
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One more medal to his name and additional experience to put to good use this weekend, with the highlight being the mass start of these World Championships on Sunday at 2:15 p.m.
The day before, we could already find her at the summit with her teammates from the French team.
Lou Jeanmonnot (6th with a 19/20 this Tuesday) and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (7th with a 17/20), the other leaders of the Bleues, once again showed the density of their collective.