“Bug, I did it!” »: Océane Michelon wins money in mass-start at the Biathlon Worlds

A crazy race to complete the female part of the World Biathlon, in Lenzerheide, Switzerland! And a look, almost lost. That of Océane Michelon, who had never mounted on a podium in the World Cup, and offers himself at 22 years the silver medal, in Mass-Start, behind the Swedish Elvira Oeberg. One of the new blue nuggets (with Jeanne Richard, 4th, after a sumptuous start of race) is the French fourth to climb on an individual race podium during these Worlds. After Justine Braisaz Bouchet (gold in sprint and bronze in prosecution), Julia Simon (gold on the individual) and Lou Jeanmonnot (bronze on the individual). The proof of the incredible density of this French women’s team, also crowned in relay on Saturday.

“It’s crazy, what way of concluding these fantastic worlds,” smiles Océane Michelon, at the team’s microphone. Forgive me the expression, but as I told me several times in the week Stéphane (Bouthiaux the manager of tricolor biathlon): By dint of pissing around the podium, we will eventually piss on it ! So, it’s today! “And the Frenchwoman to come back to her end of race:” I had made two laps behind Kirkeeide (the Norwegian, 3rd), to save myself, I told myself that I was cooler and that I had to take it by surprise. It was not easily. At the top of the bump, I see that I have a little advance. I did not want to believe it before the last dish, the last descent is a little dangerous. I said to myself: As long as you did not pass this damn turn, you wait. Afterwards, I said to myself, bug, bug, I did it! »»

Océane Michelon reassembled like never before

Like the festival offered by the French team in Switzerland for 10 days (13 medals, before the Mass-Start Men), the final race for the ladies was sumptuous. With to start, an incredible battle on the Mass-Start, between the German Franziska Preuss, leader in the classification of the World Cup and impeccable shooting, and the French, completely on fire on the skis.

The head group starts with the fault (3 for Justine Braisaz-Bouchet), and the Swedish Elvira Oeberg escapes. Behind, a group of six girls launched to compete for money and bronze. Including the French women Lou Jeanmonnot and Océane Michelon (0 fault) and the Norwegian Kirkeeide, faster at the start of the last round. Raised like never, Océane Michelon nevertheless manages to fill her delay and return to the Norwegian to afford the money. While the French team equaled its medal record established in 2024.