Germany’s Franziska Preuss won her first-ever individual IBU World Championships Gold medal this afternoon in 26.:58.9, cementing her as the leading female in these BMW IBU World Championships. The German easily cleaned all four stages for her third medal, after Sprint Silver and Mixed Relay Bronze.

“Perfect Race”

Preuss was overjoyed with her Gold medal performance, calling it, “the perfect race, the one everyone is training for. It was super cool, especially the last loop. I had time to enjoy it. I am just happy and satisfied. Thank you, Lenzerheide!”

“I will never forget this day”

Regarding crossing the finish line waving the German flag, she added, “It was crazy. It was a fight against the tears. I was so close to starting to cry and laughing, of course. It was just joy. It was so cool. I will never forget this day.”

Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg won a last loop battle for the Silver medal with France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet. Oeberg, with one penalty finished 39.1 seconds back for her first-ever individual IBU WCH medal. Braisaz-Bouchet with three penalties finished in the Bronze spot 40.9 seconds back for her second medal this week after winning Sprint Gold yesterday.

France’s Lou Jeanmonnot, with two penalties finished fourth, 1:02.2 back. Switzerland’s Lena Haecki-Gross, finished fifth, with four penalties, 1:28.3 back after fourth place in the sprint. Sprint Bronze medalist Suvi Minkkinen of Finland finished sixth, with two penalties, 1:41.1 back.

Pursuit Sunday was a carbon copy of Saturday: sunny, +4C and again light winds, making clean the key to victory.

Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus