Johannes Thingnes Bö of Norway has won his fifth gold medal at the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof and still has a unique opportunity to be on the top step of the podium in all seven races. The triumph in the single mixed relay was preceded by surprisingly poor shooting and surprisingly fast shooting.
Johannes Thingnes Bö demonstratively wiped his forehead with the back of his hand as he crossed the finish line. The biathlon dominator knew that his botched prone shooting almost cost him and his relay partner Marte Olsbu Röiseland victory.
As the leader, the 29-year-old headed for the shooting range after the last change, but his nerves failed him there. In the end, Bös made three mistakes, the strong David Komatz from Austria and Italy’s medal hopeful Tommaso Giacomel passed while the favorite had to go to the penalty loop.
In the last standing stage, however, the Scandinavian showed his strength again: Gu hit all targets – and that in an incredible 17.8 seconds! The two competitors, however, stumbled and had to settle for silver and bronze in the end.
Biathlon World Cup: Röiseland “nervous” because of Bös’ record hunt
“I think the two series are among the fastest I’ve ever done. You can criticize me for prone shooting, but I have to be commended for standing shooting,” said the beaming winner afterwards at “NRK”.
His coach Siegfried Mazet seemed to have heard his top athlete’s comment and cheered: “The last series was incredibly good and strong. He did what we decided yesterday: use the time before the first shot and then he can attack .”
For Marte Olsbu Röiseland, meanwhile, it was the 13th gold at world championships, with which she replaced the German biathlon icon Magdalena Neuner as record winner. Before the race, however, the wife of DSV coach Sverre Olsbu Röiseland was “nervous”, as she admitted. The concern that she could “ruin” Bö’s chance of seven gold medals at this World Cup was great.
The top favorite, meanwhile, wanted to curb expectations ahead of Saturday’s relay and Sunday’s mass start. “I know I can do it, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. If we don’t win a gold medal in the relay on Saturday, it’s a disappointment. So we have to make sure we’re ready to do something big.”