Warm temperatures, yesterday’s heavy rain and very wet snow made the tracks slow and sloppy, but France’s World Champion Julia Simon bested the elements this afternoon, shooting clean for a 38:08.2 win in Pokljuka Women’s 12.5 km Shot Individual. Simon’s third win of the season was her second consecutive victory in an Individual competition after taking the WCH title in Lenzerheide last month.

“Lucky to win”

Simon considered herself lucky to start early with bib 19 in the tough conditions. “It was a tough race today. I think I was lucky to start in the front of the race, because when I watched the shooting range 10 minutes ago, the wind was stronger than during my race. On the shooting range, it was quite okay during the race, but the tracks were very difficult. It was a difficult race; I feel really happy and lucky to win this race today.”

Win in Every Discipline

The short individual win gave the 2023 World Cup Total Score winner a victory in every discipline. “Really happy, for being a good biathlete, you have to win in each discipline; very happy to shoot twenty in individual races.”

Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg, with one penalty finished second, 39.1 seconds back. Yellow Bib Franziska Preuss of Germany continued to shoot well with one penalty for third place, 46.2 seconds back.

Hanna’s teammate Anna-Karin Heidjenberg, also with one penalty finished in a career-best fourth place 46.2 seconds back, improving from her previous best 14th place in the season-opening Kontiolahti Short Individual. Simon’s teammates Oceane Michelon and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, both with two penalties finished fifth and sixth, 1:06.9 and 1:19.4 seconds back.

The rescheduled individual competitions opened in the tough conditions, with the typical Pokljuka shooting range wind.

Photos: IBU/ Jaroslav Svoboda, Nordic Focus