See how the World Cup gold was decided dramatically – the champion opened up about the pressure placed by the media, Kaisa Mäkäräinen told about the friction in the team

In the biathlon world championships, the women’s pursuit ended dramatically at the last shooting place.

Germany won the sprint Denise Herrmann-Wick and France Julia Simon were fighting for the world championship. Simon cleared the final shootout with one penalty as Herrmann-Wick missed two shots.

Simon won his first world championship in his career by 27 seconds. Missing the last shooting position was Simon’s only one in four shooting positions.

Herrmann-Wick fired four misses.

Of course, the Frenchman was happy when he had the World Championship gold around his neck for the first time.

– This is crazy. This is just incredible. I was really focused. Before the last shooting position, the coach said in the big climb that I am in the lead with Denise. Third place is far away. But I told myself it didn’t matter. I just want to win, Simon said very emotionally in the winner’s interview.

The Frenchman came to the World Cup held in Oberhof as the top name in the World Cup.

– It was really difficult to race even a sprint with all the pressure. The whole media was talking about me as the favorite when I had the World Cup leader’s yellow vest. I’m just so happy, said Simon, who reached 10th place in the long distance.

One of France’s top names, last year’s Olympic champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet is currently on maternity leave. Sports expert Kaisa Mäkäräinen says that the absence of Braisaz-Bouchet would have freed Simon. He had talked about it with his former rival and current French TV commentator Marie Dorin Habert’n with.

– According to Simon and Braisaz, there has been competition within the team. Simon has felt that he has been in Brasaiz’s shadow all these years, Mäkäräinen opened.

The team’s atmosphere has also improved with new young promises. A cross-country star has also become responsible for skiing in the French national team Richard Jouven ex-coach.

There were a total of three Frenchmen among the ten: Lou Jeanmonnot was sixth and Sophie Chauveau ninth.

In an interview with Urheilu, Simon emphasized strong self-confidence as the key to the championship.

– This championship means a lot. Behind a lot of hard work and doubt. Sometimes it was tough when my shooting wasn’t so good. I’ve dreamed about this since I was a child, Simon said.

The foggy weather did not weigh Simon down.

– I like this place. The crowd is always so nice. So many people are cheering us on, Simon beamed.

Minkkinen started strongly

Finland was represented as the only one in the chase Suvi Minkkinen. He got off to a strong start, shooting the first two places cleanly.

However, three missed shots came from the uprights.

– I didn’t realize at the beginning how good the skiing would be. It was humid and slow weather. I thought I’d take it slow. I didn’t focus on anything other than keeping my own feelings under control. Battery (coach Moilanen) shouted in the third round that the crowd was falling, Minkkinen described.

When coming to the upright positions, the fog was stronger than when lying down.

– I tried to shoot vertically with a better grip. It didn’t work, Minkkinen opened his passing shots.

Minkkinen moved up 11 places on the scoreboard in the first World Cup pursuit of his career.

– I am satisfied, but I could have reached the top ten with a super performance on the bench. But maybe the increase also indicates the challenging conditions, when he nevertheless moved up ten places with three fines, Minkkinen stated.