Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe doubled up this afternoon, taking the BMW IBU World Championships Men’s Pursuit Gold medal in 32:26.9, making more history 24 hours after his 21st Gold medal, with number 22. Today’s win marked his 12th Gold medal, topping the record co-held by him, Martin Fourcade and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.

Last loop, “I had nothing left”

JT, despite his wire-to-wire win, was a bit worried about Campbell Wright on the last loop. “I was fighting alone in front, I managed to do some good shootings, I think. The last one was excellent. Then there is this young guy coning from behind. I really pushed hard from the start of the last loop; I had no energy left. On the final uphill, there was nothing more to do, but I tried to catch the finish line on top. I was so tired in the legs on the downhill; it was just enough.”

“A great weekend”

The now 12-time IBU WCH individual Gold medalist was more than pleased with his latest record in his final biathlon season. “It is another historic day. Yesterday was the total amount of Golds and now it is most individual winning World Championships titles. It’s a great weekend!”

The USA’s Wright won his second consecutive Silver medal, with one penalty, 5.6 seconds back. Wright’s medal also made history; the US team has never won two medals in the same IBU WCH. France’s Eric Perrot, with one penalty moved from 14th at the start to Bronze, his first-ever individual IBU WCH medal, 20.8 seconds back.

JT’s teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid shot clean in fourth place, 36.7 seconds back. Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel, with two penalties, 54 seconds back, with his teammate Quentin Fillon Maillet with five penalties and Slovenia's clean-shooting Jakov Fak tied for sixth, 1:16.6 back. Still sunshine but a bit more wind set the stage for the late afternoon men’s competition.

Photos IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus