Éric Perrot has arrived on the biathlon throne. The Frenchman is happy about the big crystal ball. The newly crowned overall World Cup winner regrets that one of his biggest competitors had to end the season prematurely.
Perrot ultimately came out on top in the overall biathlon World Cup with 1263 points, ahead of the Norwegians Sturla Holm Laegreid (984) and Johan-Olav Botn (968).
The Italian Tommaso Giacomel was also at the forefront for a long time this winter. However, the 25-year-old had to end the season early due to heart surgery after the Olympics.
“It was very sad when I spoke to him and he told me that the season was over for him. I didn’t see that coming,” said Perrot in an interview with the International Biathlon Federation IBU.
It “took me a while until I understood and accepted that. Then I said to myself: ‘Okay, then the fight for the crystal ball this year will be one with myself,'” explained the 24-year-old.
Perrot in a list of biathlon legends
Winning the Big Crystal Ball was a dream come true for Perrot. “It means so much to me. It’s completely crazy. I can’t find the right words. It’s such a big thing, I’ve been working towards it since I started biathlon at my club in France,” said the new biathlon king.
Perrot is now on a prominent list. “I saw Johannes Bö run and competed against Martin Fourcade and Quentin Fillon Maillet. So it’s still hard for me to understand that I’m now part of this family, one of the big names, and that I’ve won the overall victory. It’s just crazy, but I’ll enjoy it,” said the French ski hunter.
In the previous season, Perrot finished the overall World Cup in third place behind Laegreid and Bö.
