Lien and Guigonnat win Sprints in Osrblie

IBU Open European Championships

26 Jan 2024

Lien and Guigonnat win Sprints in Osrblie

Ida Lien of Norway and Antonin Guigonnat of France, both with 10/10, are the Sprint winners at the IBU Open European Championships in Brezno-Osrblie.

Lien speeds to a win

After a measured start for her skiing standards, Lien, starting late with a bib 107, took the lead after the standing shooting, with her teammate Maren Kirkeeide, with a bib114, just 14 seconds behind her. Lien won after a fiercely contested final lap in 19:11.5, with Kirkeeide 14 seconds behind her. Khrystyna Dmytrenko of Ukraine, also with 10/10, won a bronze medal, 35.5 seconds behind the winner.

The Winner's Words - Ida Lien

It was a very closely contested battle with Maren (Kirkeeide). I got positive feedback from the coaches in the last lap and just pushed to the end, knowing Maren would do everything within her power to be faster. We will go almost head-to-head in tomorrow's Pursuit.

Watch Highlights here

Anna-Karin Heijdenberg of Sweden, with 10/10, finished fourth, 40.8 seconds behind Lien, and a sole 0.1 seconds ahead of Jenny Enodd of Norway in the fifth. Emily Aagheim Kalkenberg of Norway, missing one shot, rounded up the podium in sixth place, 43.8 seconds behind her teammate winner.

10/10 wins Guigonnat Gold medal

Guigonnat was one of only a few athletes who kept a clean sheet on the shooting range as the wind made the day difficult for many, including the heavily favored Norwegians. He won with 22:51.9, 14.5 seconds ahead of speedster Johan Olav Botn of Norway, who missed two shots. Isak Frey of Norway, with 9/10, won a Bronze medal, 16.7 seconds behind Guigonnat.

The Winner's Words - Antonin Guigonnat

I am really pleased with this win. I focused on breathing at the shooting range and executed my plan well. I knew the Norwegians, especially Botn, would be super fast on the skis, so I had to shoot clean. This win gives me motivation for the rest of the season and also to prepare well for the next one.

Watch Highlights here

Fourth place went to Andrejs Rastorgujevs of Latvia, who had one miss and finished 25.5 seconds behind the French winner. Vebjoern Soerum of Norway, with two misses in the standing, finished fifth, 32.3 seconds back. Theo Guiraud-Poillot of France, with 9/10, completed the podium in the sixth place, 32.9 seconds behind his teammate winner.