The most successful athlete by a large margin in these championships was Tiril Eckhoff of Norway. The friendly Norwegian relies on the comprehensive Fischer Speedmax package, and she dominated the field with her prowess. The World Cup leader is taking home four golds, one silver, one bronze medal and she is overjoyed. “After last year in Antholz I was really disappointed. But I think that’s the reason the World Champs this year went so well. I unquestionably wanted to do it better. I never give up- and now I’ve won a bunch of medals.”
Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Bø was equally outstanding out on the track. Even though he struggled with his shooting performance, he significantly enhanced the Fischer medal count with double gold, one silver, and one bronze. After the third event of the championships, his Norwegian teammate Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold was saying it would be another year before she could make the podium in a non-relay event. In fact, it took two days, as she scored a bronze in the Individual. She ended up contributing the full medal array to the excellent Fischer total. Johannes Dale of Norway was able to secure his first World Championship non-relay medals with bronze in the Individual and silver in the Mass Start.
Historic Results
Swedish Sprint world champion Martin Ponsiluoma also won the entire array of medals. Together with countrywoman Hanna Öberg, who contributed bronze and two silvers, they assisted not only on Fischer’s sensational tally, but also on Team Sweden setting the World Championship record.
Yet another historical exclamation point was added by Lisa Theresa Hauser of Austria. After silver in the Mixed Relay and in Pursuit, she wrote history with gold in the Mass Start. “For me this is a dream come true- I cannot even believe it”, said the first female Austrian biathlon world champion ever, overcome with emotion. France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet, after a sixth place, a fifth, and three fourths, also had the dream of a world championships medal fulfilled, as he took bronze in the Mass Start, the very final event.
This level of success led to an understandably positive summary by Gerhard Urain, the Nordic Racing Director at Fischer: “In regard to the equipment, the championships in Pokljuka were very challenging. We were faced with fresh snow, extreme cold, and all the way up to really wet conditions, and our race equipment performed well everywhere, which is, of course, very important to us. We’re very happy with our showing overall at the championships, and obviously the final day, with five out of six athletes on the podium, was sensational.”
