It was the most bizarre scene of the men’s individual race at the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding. Johannes Thingses Bö and Emilien Jacquelin, perhaps the best biathletes this season, between small talk, giving up and the role model function of the top athletes – summarized in 20 kilometers. By Jonas Schützeberg
20.6 seconds of rapid fire, a short wave and a bow towards the stands – the race was stopped. That could have been it for Johannes Thingnes Boe, perhaps even should have been, if a Frenchman hadn’t gotten in his way.
Johannes Things Boe, the man in the yellow jersey, the biathlon dominator of the past few years, made five mistakes in the first three series of the individual race in Ruhpolding and was distant in 84th place, an unusual picture. “After the third shooting I knew that I was far away from the World Cup points. I ran an easy lap to practice extra fast shooting at the end. After that I wanted to get out and not waste any energy.”he said in the Sportschau interview.
Infection over the turn of the year
The great Norwegian fell ill at the turn of the year and after the World Cup in Oberhof at the beginning of January he even considered skipping the Bavarian World Cup stop. “The 20 kilometers on Wednesday in Ruhpolding came too early for my body, that really hurt. Now I have to be patient and hope that things get better day by day.” He started anyway.
Back to the race and the last shooting of this individual. With his rifle at the ready, a squall swept over the five black discs, which changed color to white so quickly that the viewer had to make an effort to follow. Five shots, five hits, the Olympic champion showed what he is capable of.
But then he waved to the audience and dragged his sticks, sliding out of the shooting range on his skis in slow motion, appearing listless. The next image that inevitably emerged in many fans’ minds was Johannes Things Boe taking off his skis and giving up the race.
Emilien Jacquelin as a motivator
At exactly that moment, Emilien Jacquelin, one of the Norwegian’s biggest opponents, came rushing up and spoke to him as he drove past, gesticulating wildly: “I was totally surprised because I had never seen anything like that from Johannes. Then I told him to keep running”the Frenchman described the situation the day after the competition.
Jacquelin, of all people, was the last to leave the shooting range at the 2021 Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia after five errors in the mass start and had to be motivated by the trainers on the course to keep running. The Frenchman stopped several times along the way, chatted with the supervisors, and then ran to the finish in tears at the end.
When a botched World Cup race changes your conscience
A race that shaped and influenced the 29-year-old. “I was so disappointed at Pokljuka. At the World Championships it’s all about medals and they were far away. I thought about it a lot afterwards and developed myself further. Now I see things a little differently. I always try to do my best now, In every race there hasn’t been a race in which I haven’t given everything in every second. I’m proud of that.”
Bö also kept running. “Emilien asked if I wanted to accompany him for a ride (laughs) and that it is not allowed to give up the race if you run in the yellow jersey.”
Johannes Things Boe as ambassador for young talent
The overall World Cup leader finished the individual race in Ruhpolding in 85th place, the worst result of his entire career, and yet this result perhaps makes him bigger than another victory in his seemingly endless collection of medals.
“As a role model, you keep going. I’m glad Emilien was there and helped me make the right decision. It’s a good example for young athletes because you can always have a bad day, but you have to get there bite through and look forward.” The biathlon handbook of strange stories is now enriched by another chapter.