They have been chasing a victory since the start of the season.
Far from the podiums at the start of winter, the biathlon Blues offered a magnificent reaction this Saturday evening, during the Soldier Hollow sprint, in the United States.
Imperial on skis, Éric Perrot and Émilien Jacquelin finished in first and second place in this race.
An improbable double which follows the beautiful bronze medal of Quentin Fillon Maillet during the mass start of the Worlds on February 18.
Before this third place, the Blues had never appeared on an individual podium this season.
They had to settle for two second and one third places in the relay.
This time, there will be two on the box, to their delight.
The last French double dates back to the mass start of Grand-Bornand on December 19, 2021 (Émilien Jacquelin ahead of Quentin Fillon Maillet).
Increasingly successful throughout the season, young Éric Perrot, only 22 years old, won his first individual victory in the World Cup.
“It’s crazy,” he said after his appearance at the microphone of La Chaîne L’Équipe.
I gave everything, I really fought for this race.
I've been looking for it for a while, I said it was possible, I've been talking about it for a long time.
I thought about it the whole last lap, I promised myself not to finish this season without having won one.
I knew it was going to be very hard but there was an opportunity so I gave it my all.
There is relief and joy.
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“A year ago, I wasn’t there”
For Émilien Jacquelin, it’s a rebirth.
Double world pursuit champion, in 2020 and 2021, the Grenoblois has been suffering for many months.
In 2022-2023, he even ended his season at the World Championships, later explaining that he had suffered psychologically.
In recent weeks, he has come back to the forefront.
He also participated in the bronze medal in the men's relay at the World Championships in Nove Mesto.
Éric Perrot crosses the line with the best time of this sprint ahead of Émilien Jacquelin!
Live on the L'Équipe channel > https://t.co/pXI4SIbEoH#lequipeBIATHLON pic.twitter.com/RQ5lwdiN3Z
— the L’Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) March 9, 2024
“I feel like I'm regaining my physical abilities from race to race,” he said after his second place.
I'm really happy to have been able to control my race, my pace for three laps, on snow which is not necessarily to my advantage.
Second with 8/10 shooting, I take it.
A year ago, I wasn't there.
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