Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson, after cleaning prone and just a single penalty in standing flew around the last loop to win the IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships Men’s 7.5 km Sprint Gold medal in 18:38.1 at Ruhpolding’s Chiemgau Arena. He finished 8.3 seconds of teammate Peppe Femling, moving the Swedish duo up1-2 finish after their 2-3 finish in yesterday’s men’s super sprint. In the final competition of the day, Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi, with an 11.3-second deficit after the standing stage, ran a brilliant last loop, moving from second position to capture the SBWCH Women’s 6 km Sprint Gold medal in 16:21.4.

“Happy with my performance”

Samuelsson was pleased with his result, especially in conditions windier than usual in Ruhpolding. “I am really happy with my performance. I think it was a really good race. It is my second week of racing after the National Championships last week. I felt good on the tracks and shooting range. It was windier here today than normally in Ruhpolding. I had to be really focused in zeroing and read the wind flags. I think it was fair conditions but definitely more tricky than usual.”

Men’s Sprint: Swedish Teammates 1-2

Although the weather threatened rain all afternoon, it never arrived, leaving cool partly cloudy conditions for the two late afternoon senior sprint competitions.

Femling, also with one penalty won the Silver medal, 8.3 seconds back. 22-year-old Niklas Hartweg of Switzerland, with one penalty won the Bronze medal, 27.2 seconds back.

First Senior Podium for Hartweg

Samuelsson, wearing bib number two cleaned prone, but was .8 seconds behind teammate Martin Ponsiluoma. In standing, the eventual winner shot with authority but missed a shot, while Ponsiluoma had four penalties, falling from contention. The two Germans stayed in the mix, but penalties kept them from challenging. Mid-field starter Femling was equally good in prone, but 8.2 seconds back. However, after a standing miss, he was just 3 seconds behind Samuelsson and maintained his spot over the last loop. Hartweg was 14 seconds out after standing and despite slowing some in the last loop, held onto third for his first senior podium and medal.

Czech Republic’s Michal Krcmar, also with one penalty finished fourth, 28.7 seconds back. Germany’s Lukas Fratzscher, with two penalties finished fifth, 30.4 seconds back. His teammate Johannes Kuehn, with two penalties finished sixth, 32.5 seconds back.

Vittozzi Tops Davidova in Women’s Sprint

Behind Vittozzi’s one-penalty Gold medal performance, Czech Republic’s Marketa Davidova shot clean, winning the Silver medal, 2.4 seconds back. Dual Bronze medals went to Slovakia’s Paulina Fialkova and Switzerland’s Lena Haecki Gross. Both shot clean, finishing in the same 23.9 seconds back.

Focused on Shooting

The Silver medalist was not disappointed with her performance. “I felt very good on the tracks and am especially happy with my shooting. That was my focus, so I am satisfied.”

Vittozzi on Fire in Last Loop

Davidova controlled the early stages of the competition, until the last 1 km, cleaning both stages with ease and leaving the standing stage with an 11.3 second gap on Vittozzi and the rest of the field. However, Vittozzi was on fire on the tracks. By th e5 km split, the Italian was a mere .6 seconds behind the Czech star. Coming down the finishing stretch, Vittozzi was full gas, having run the last 2.5 km loop 13,7 seconds faster than Davidova to take the Gold medal. Fialkova and Haecki Gross started with bibs 19 and 15, matching each other on the range and separated by just 2.2 seconds after standing. The Slovak had a four second bulge at the 5 km split, but Haecki Gross used the long downhill to the finish to claw back, finishing in a tie with Fialkova.

Elvira Oeberg of Sweden, with two penalties, finished fifth, 39.6 seconds back. Germany’s Denise Herrmann, also with two penalties, finished sixth, 39.9 seconds back.

The 2022 IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships conclude tomorrow with pursuit competitions for juniors and the Gala Mass starts for the Seniors. The Gala Mass Starts will be livestreamed with the women at 1300 CET and the men at 15:05.

Photos; IBU/Christian Manzoni