Heijdenberg and Bakken win Sprints in Martell
Anna-Karin Heijdenberg of Sweden and Sivert Guttorm Bakken, both with 10/10, won the gold medal in the Sprint at the IBU Open European Championships in Martell-Val Martello, Italy.
Clean shooting brings gold to Heijdenberg
Heijdenberg delivered a flawless performance to claim victory in the women’s sprint at the IBU Open European Championships in Martell-Val Martello. She shot clean and crossed the finish line in 21:43.1, securing a dominant win. France’s Amandine Mengin finished second, 49.3 seconds behind, despite one missed shot. Baiba Bendika of Latvia completed the podium, just 0.1 seconds behind Mengin, with two penalties.
THE WINNER’S WORDS - ANNA-KARIN HEIJDENBERG
I have put together perhaps the best race of my career so far. I knew that it would probably take a perfect day on the shooting range to win today, and I did so. I hope that this win increases my chances of qualifying for the Swedish team in Lenzerheide.
Norway’s Marte-Krakstad Johansen, finished fourth, only 1.6 seconds off the podium, thanks to perfect shooting. France’s Sophie Chauveau, with two missed shots, took fifth place, 54.9 seconds behind Heijdenberg. Norway’s Siri Skar rounded out the top six, finishing 55.5 seconds back with one penalty.
After a bronze medal in the Individual, Heijdenberg is the only woman with two medals before tomorrow’s Pursuit.
OECH Martell-Val Martello_Sprints
Last kilometre dash brings gold to Bakken
Bakken secured victory in the men’s sprint at the IBU Open European Championships in Martell-Val Martello, delivering a flawless performance with zero penalties and a time of 25:03.6. His Norwegian teammate Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen also shot clean but finished 6.6 seconds behind to claim silver. Austria’s Felix Muehlbacher completed the podium, just 10.2 seconds back, also with perfect shooting.
THE WINNER’S WORDS - SIVERT GUTTORM BAKKEN
I didn’t feel too well before the race; my body was starting to struggle with the high altitude. I started the race at a steady pace and took my time in the prone position. After clearing all the targets in the standing stage, I realised I could at least match Vetle Christiansen’s skiing speed. One kilometre before the finish line, I noticed I was trailing Vetle by merely three seconds, so I decided to give it my all. This gold medal means a lot to me.
Sverre Dahlen Aspenes, despite two penalties, placed fourth, 12.0 seconds off the lead. Another Norwegian, Isak Frey, finished fifth, with one missed shot costing him a chance at the podium. Sweden’s Emil Nykvist rounded out the top six, just 15.2 seconds behind Bakken.
Photo: C. Manzoni: IBU
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