Gala Mass Starts: Gold for Estonia’s Zahkna, Latvia’s Bendika
Estonia’s Rene Zahkna took control of the IBU SBWCH Men’s Gala Mass Start by cleaning the first standing stage and despite his only three penalties of the day in the last stage, pulled away for the Gold medal in 32:28.6. Closing these Championships, Latvia’s Baiba Bendika cleaned the last standing, going on to the Gold medal in 29:45.1, with four penalties on the day.
“I was not expecting it”
Zahkna had the thrill of his life winning Gold in front of his home crowd. “It is unbelievable because I was not expecting it! You can imagine the surprise and confidence I got with the first three perfect shootings. I have to thank the Otepaeae wind after I got three penalties; it started blowing even more (and his rivals also missed shots). I was so lucky. It was the perfect day.”
“Like a win at home”
Bendika’s win was a hard fought surprise like Zahkna. “It was a hard race with these conditions…It has been many years since I have been at a good level, so doing it in Estonia which is not so far from home seems like a win at home. The Estonians cheer for us like we do for them so it seems more like home.”
Zahkna Stuns Men’s Gala Mass Start
Behind Zahkna’s stunning first Gold medal for Estonia, Czechia’s Jonas Marecek, the 2022 IBU Junior Individual World Champion won the Silver medal, also with three penalties, 7,9 seconds back. Latvia’s Andrejs Rastorgujevs with five penalties moved from fifth after the last standing to claim the Bronze medal, 19.7 seconds back.
Bright sunshine, warm temperatures, and wind set the tone for the final day at the IBU SBWCH. Five men including the Gold medalist cleaned the first prone stage within 8 seconds. The second prone was a carbon copy, with the Estonian third and the top three 19 seconds up on the field. Zahkna and Emilien Claude separated themselves before the first standing.
Zahkna went to15-for-15, and came to the last standing with a huge lead that evaporated with three penalties. Yet everyone else was also missing’ Zahkna left with a 6-second lead, going unchallenged to victory and his first-ever individual podium.
Second Silver medal for Minkinnen
Bendika’s first-ever Gold medal topped the last competition at this year’s IBU SBWCH. Suvi Minkinnen took her second Silver medal of these Championships, with two penalties, 24.3 seconds back, with Czechia’s Tereza Vobornikova in the Bronze spot, 30.3 seconds back after a single penalty.
Minkinnen led the field early after cleaning the first prone, with Lucie Charvatova on her shoulder, quickly took control. With two penalties, clean-shooting Vobornikova and Lotte Lie took the lead.
Minkinnen came from behind in the first standing with a clean stage, moving ahead of Vobornikova with one penalty. In the deciding last standing, the Finn missed a shot opening the door for the clean-shooting Bendika and Vobornikova to leave in the top two spots. The Latvian went on to the Gold medal unchallenged, ahead of Minkinnen and Vobornikova.
2024 IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships Pursuits, Gala Mass Start
Junior Pursuits, Double Gold for Mandzyn
Sprint World Champion Vitalii Mandzyn of Ukraine made it a sprint/pursuit double today, taking the IBU SBWCH Junior Men’s Pursuit in 26:44.8, with four penalties. Norwegians Sivert Gerhardsen and Kasper Kalkenberg won the Silver and Bronze medals, also with four penalties, 18.8 and 22.5 seconds back, respectively.
Bulgarians dominate Junior Women’s Pursuit
Bulgarians Valentina Dimitrova and Lora Hristova won the IBU SBWCH Pursuit Gold and Silver medals, with four and five penalties. Dimitrova topped the field in 23:27.5, with her teammate 23,9 seconds back. Czechia’s Ilona Plecha Kova took the Bronze medal with three penalties, 37.4 seconds back.
Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni
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