Stroemsheim Leads Norwegian Short Individual Podium Sweep

BMW IBU World Cup

03 Dec 2024

Stroemsheim Leads Norwegian Short Individual Podium Sweep

Norway’s Endre Stroemsheim’s 38:08.8 victory this evening in the Kontiolahti Men’s 15 km Short Individual led a Norwegian podium sweep with Johannes Thingnes Boe and Sturla Holm Laegreid following. Stroemsheim’s clean shooting and strong track performance was enough to take the first Yellow Bib of his career in the season-opening individual competition.

“I was really confident at the shooting range”

Stroemsheim was unsure how he would fare in this first competition, making him a bit nervous before the start, but gained confidence with each step. “I am so happy; it is just a huge relief. I was really nervous before this because it is hard to be a Norwegian; we are seven guys and all seven can win each World Cup race. It is crazy, I was not sure about my shape. It was a little bit strange these last days, but on the first loop, I felt okay today it is better. I was really confident at the shooting range so even with some wind, I knew what to do all the time. I got more and more confident during the race and in the end, thought, ‘it is possible to go for the win.’

First-ever Yellow Bib

As for taking his first-ever Yellow Bib, “It is huge…huge…It is a dream. I am so happy. It was a perfect start for me this season!”

JT: “You win some and lose some”

2024 World Cup Total Score winner JT, wearing Yellow missed a shot in the first standing stage and despite a solid track performance, left him three seconds back in second place. Philosophical about his second place, JT was philosophical about his second place. “I had a big fight with Sturla and Endre, end up in between, very close to winning. In the long run, you win some and you lose some. Endre deserved it today. What a great race!”

Laegreid matched Stroemsheim’s 20-for-20, in third place, 24.2 seconds back. Vitalii Mandzyn of Ukraine, also shooting clean finished fourth, 1:03.9 back. French teammates Quentin Fillon Maillet with two penalties and Eric Perrot with one miss finished fifth and sixth, 1:10.7 and 1:22.6 back, respectively.

The first individual competition of the 2024/25 season featured -2C and light winds on the range, for a competition where each penalty adds 45 seconds. Perrot cleaned for the early lead in the first prone; holding it until JT went 5.8 seconds up while Stroemsheim cleaned 10.7 seconds back.

Stroemsheim Takes Charge

Perrot cleaned the first standing as Laegreid matched, moved closer. Then everything changed when Stroemsheim went 5-for-5 for a 4.5-second lead. JT missed a shot, falling off the pace by 20 seconds.

From the first standing on, it was all Stroemsheim, shooting perfectly with his teammates chasing. Laegreid came to the last standing. shot carefully and clean but Stroemsheim continued his road to Yellow going to 20-for-20. JT cleaned the last stage but failed to close the gap to Stroemsheim.