A head-to head race took place not only between Franziska Preuss and Lou JeanMonnot at the last biathlon World Cup of the season. In the U23 ranking, in which Germany’s greatest hope of future, Selina Grotian also mixed up, a duel was caught. The victory ultimately felt unreal for the winner Océane Michelon.
Top talent Océane Michelon has won the blue jersey of the 2024/25 season. The French woman is the best U23 biathlete in winter, with impressive 760 World Cup points she finished fifth in the overall ranking-closely followed by her compatriot Jeanne Richard. The gap of the 22-year-old was only five points.
For Michelon, a first big dream comes true in the Biathlon World Cup. “It means a lot to me,” she emphasized in an interview with “Fondo Italia”.
Since the World Cup in the Czech Nove Mesto, she has started to “dream” of winning the blue jerseys, the 23-year-old confessed: “I had good legs and great confidence in my shot.”
Wild 24 hours for biathlon talent Michelon
However, when she arrived in Olo, she “lost all these good feelings”. At the start of the Holmenkollen, she had only landed in the sprint in 18th place, Richard made it to 17th place. The next damper followed in the pursuer when Michelon finished 25, but Richard became twelfth.
“In the beginning it was very difficult and yesterday I said it was over. That I lost my chance. I was very stressed and thought I couldn’t do it,” said Michelon, who was able to change the counter in the last race on Sunday. As the fourth, she delivered an impressive race and was ultimately able to outdo Richard (15th) in the overall ranking.
The winning of the blue start number gave her great “emotions”, the French was pleased: “That I got her 24 hours after I thought it was impossible. I am really nice. I’m missing the words, it is impressive,” she was happy ..
Selina Grotian (20) completed the 2024/25 biathlon season as the second best German in ninth place.