Women 7.5 km Sprint Competition

France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, despite a prone penalty, skied impeccably once again pulling away on the tracks to win the Soldier Hollow Women’s 7.5 km Sprint in 20:42.7. Braisaz-Bouchet led the field into the prone stage, but missed a shot, dropping 17 seconds off the lead. She closed the gap to 7 seconds by standing, cleaned in five fast shots with the wind blowing hard, taking the lead. She powered through the last loop, pulling away from her rivals for her third sprint win and seventh overall victory of the season.

Ida Lien made her World Cup debut at Nove Mesto na Morave in 2020, just days after winning IBU OECH Sprint Silver and Mixed Relay Bronze medals in Minsk. From that point, the 26-year-old was solidly on the Norwegian World Cup squad, winning IBU WCH Women’s Relay Gold in 2021. When the 2023/24 season opened, Lien was relegated the IBU Cup circuit, racking up five individual podiums including a sprint win. She returned to the top circuit ironically for NMNM 2024, but struggled on the range. Last week, Lien’s world righted itself with her first BMW IBU World Cup individual podium, a 19-for-20 third place in the Women’s 15 km Individual at home in the Holmenkollen Ski stadium.