Kaiser and Michelon win Sprints in Sjusjoen

IBU Cup

13 Dec 2023

Kaiser and Michelon win Sprints in Sjusjoen

Oceane Michelon of France and Simon Kaiser of Germany are the winners of the Sprints in Sjusjoen, the third stop in the IBU Cup in the 2023/2024 season.

For both, it was their first-ever IBU Cup win.

Kaiser's perfect race

Simon Kaiser of Germany, who struggled with shooting accuracy (64%) in Kontiolahti and Idre Fjall, found his rhythm in windy conditions in Sjusjoen for his first-ever 10/10 in the IBU Cup in 24:26.4.

Johan Olav Botn missed two shots, which proved one too many even for the fastest skier in the IBU Cup: he finished second, 16.8 seconds behind the winner from Germany. Mats Oeverby, after one miss in the prone, switched gears in the second half of his race, finishing third, 18.5 seconds behind Kaiser.

The Winner's words - Simon Kaiser

"I am really satisfied with my performance today. Many athletes had a good day, and it took 10 hits for a win. I struggled with my shooting in Finland and Sweden. I finally brought my shooting performance from the practice to the competition."

Watch Men's Sprint Highlights here

Kaiser's teammate Lucas Fratzscher, missing once, finished in fourth place, 27.8 seconds behind. Sweden's clean-shooting Viktor Brandt achieved fifth place, 35.1 seconds behind Kaiser. Isak Frey, competing in his first IBU Cup in 2023/2024, shot 10/10 and completed the Flower ceremony in sixth place, 36.3 seconds behind the German winner.

Botn has extended his lead in the Total Score standings.

Michelon’s first-ever 10/10 for first-ever IBU Cup win

Clean-shooting Oceane Michelon won in the Women's Sprint in Sjusjoen. Her teammate Jeanne Richard finished second, and Gro Randby of Norway third.

Structuring a nearly perfect sprint, Michelon acted focused on the shooting and skied seventh fastest time. She won in 21:25.0. Richard had one miss in the prone and finished 15 seconds behind Michelon. Randby shot 9/10 and staged a speedy second part of her race, climbing from 21st after the prone shoot to the final third place, 17.6 seconds behind the winner.

The Winner's words - Ocean Michelon

I am very happy about my first-ever IBU Cup win and first-ever 10/10 on the shooting range. It was a well-balanced race. Perhaps my skiing wasn't at my highest level. The whole team is performing strongly, we are three French women in the Top 6.

Watch Women's Sprint Highlights here

Anna-Karin Heijdenberg of Sweden, with one miss, finished fourth, 22.6 seconds behind Michelon. Anaelle Bondoux, with 9/10 and third-fastest skiing time, achieved her first-ever IBU Cup Flower ceremony finish. Sixth place went to Annie Lind of Sweden. Like Bondoux, she hit nine targets and reached her first-ever Flower ceremony finish in the IBU Cup. Richard took back number one spot in the Total Score standings.

Richard took back number one spot in the Total Score standings.