Kuelm brings Estonia first-ever IBU Cup win
The Short Individual races at the season’s final IBU Cup in Otepaa, Estonia saw Sivert Guttorm Bakken win for Norway and Susan Kuelm for Estonia. Kuelm, to great delight of the OC and local fans, brought Estonia the first-ever IBU Cup win. Voldiya Galmace Paulin of France and Isak Frey of Norway won the Individual Cup Score.
20/20 brings glory to Kuelm and Estonia
Kuelm delivered a flawless shooting performance and finished with a time of 39:08.5. Norway's Karoline Erdal secured second place, just 5.6 seconds behind the winner despite one shooting penalty. France's Camille Bened finished in third, only 6.4 seconds behind Kuelm, after incurring two penalties.
THE WINNER’S WORDS - SUSAN KUELM
It is an amazing day for me and for the biathlon in Estonia as it is our first-ever win in the IBU Cup. I knew I had to shoot 20/20 to have a chance as I fell sick last week. After crossing the finish line I called my mum. She is my go-to person for everything: when winning, losing, being happy and not being happy.
Another French athlete, Voldiya Galmace Paulin, took fourth place with a time gap of 31.5 seconds and two penalties. Switzerland's Lea Meier secured fifth place, finishing 31.9 seconds behind the winner. Paula Botet of France, with the fastest skiing time, claimed the sixth position, trailing by 37.8 seconds after three shooting penalties.
Galmace-Paulin, still only 19, is the winner of the Individual Cup Score.
IBU Cup 8 Otepaa - Short Individual
Bakken takes the last Individual of the season, Cup Score to Frey
Bakken, who also won in the Short Individual in Brezno-Osrblie, claimed victory with a time of 40:00.5. German athlete Roma Rees finished second, 21.0 seconds behind the leader. Another German, Lucas Fratzscher, secured third place with a gap of 1:35.9.
THE WINNER’S WORDS - SIVERT GUTTORM BAKKEN
It was a tough battle. I missed two shots, but fortunately, no one from the favourites shot clean. Individual is actually not my favourite discipline but it has been working for me lately. Slightly lower temperatures than last week made it easier for me in the tracks.
Norway's Johan Olav Botn, with the fastest skiing time. closely followed in fourth, just 1.3 seconds behind Fratzscher. France's Gaetan Paturel took fifth place, finishing 2:32.2 behind Bakken. Returning to the IBU Cup another Norwegian Sverre Dahlen Aspenes secured sixth place with a time difference of 2:43.9 to the winner.
Isak Frey, currently with the Norwegian World Cup team in Pokljuka, won in the Individual Cup Score. His coach, Anders Oeverby, received the trophy in Frey’s name.
Photo: Hendrik Osula: IBU Pool
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