Emilien Jacquelin Wins Second Consecutive IBU Pursuit Gold Medal
France’s Emilien Jacquelin won his second consecutive IBU Pursuit World Championship Gold medal this afternoon at Pokljuka, putting on a brilliant display of blindingly fast 20-for-20 shooting, finishing the 12.5 km route in 31:22.1. Silver medalist Sebastian Samuelsson of Sweden also shot clean, finishing 7.2 seconds back after outsprinting Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe, who won the Bronze medal in the last 50 meters; the Norwegian, with two penalties finished 8.1 seconds back.
IBU World Championships Men's 12.5 km Pursuit
Emotional Jacquelin
Jacquelin emotionally commented on his second title and his mental battle. “It feels so great! It was really different than the first time with Johannes. When I crossed the line last year, I did not believe I was World Champion. Over the year of training, I had some depression. I realized that it was challenging last year to be World Champion. It was too hard for me to continue. I felt I was not this kind of guy who always wants more. I was happy with my title and at the same time it was too hard to compete with the passion of who I am.”
48 Hour Focus
Continuing on focus over the past 48 hours, he added, “This year I knew after the sprint I knew that I was already focused on the pursuit. Sometimes, I thought it was a mistake because I was always thinking about that for 48 hours. I just told myself to keep calm and just think about the work and not about results. I just did how I make biathlon; this is who I am. To make a great race like this is hard to do every time, because sometimes my head does not want me to have this kind of a race, but I am really happy and proud. More proud than last year, for sure!
Jacquelin’s teammates Quentin Fillon Maillet, with two penalties and Simon Desthieux, with one penalty finished fourth and fifth, 32.5 and 41.9 seconds back, respectively. Boe’s teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid, with one penalty finished sixth, 57.9 seconds back.
Top Five Perfection in First Prone Stage
Pursuit day at the IBU World Championships was just as beautifully clear as the previous day with the temperature just a bit warmer at -5C while a moderate wind again prevailed on the shooting range. Sprint winner Ponsiluoma set the pace with teammates Jacquelin and Desthieux staying about 15 seconds behind into the first prone stage. The initial leader picked up two penalties, while Jacquelin cleaned very quickly, with Laegreid, Desthieux, Dale and Johannes matching; all going out within 10 seconds with fifteen of the top 20 also clean.
Johannes/Emilien Shooting Duel
By the 4 km split, Johannes was alongside Jacquelin, with the Norwegian setting the pace while leaving the rest of the field 10 seconds in arrears. The two rivals dueled, going shot-for-shot until Johannes missed his third shot; his French rival cleaned again very fast and was gone. Laegreid, Desthieux, and Samuelsson again were perfect, going out in that order but 14 seconds back, with the Yellow Bib now 23 seconds off the leader’s pace.
Amazingly Fast
Jacquelin was 21 seconds up on the field coming into the first standing stage. He shot amazingly fast and clean before anyone was even on their position. Desthieux and Samuelsson again cleaned going out second and third, 27 seconds back. Johannes missed again but held onto fourth position, but 44 seconds from the front, with Laegreid a few steps back after his first miss.
Title Defense Completed
The defending IBU Pursuit World Champion was all alone coming to the last standing stage, holding his pursuers at about the same distance as when they left the stadium.
Five more brilliantly confident shots and it was over; Jacquelin headed for his second consecutive pursuit title. Samuelsson also went to 20-for-20, going out in second with the Johannes also closing all five targets, leaving three seconds behind his Swedish rival, with the pair 29 seconds back.
Smiling Winner; Silver Medal Battle
Jacquelin’s last loop was a mere formality on his way to the Gold medal. Johannes quickly went past Samuelsson, who decided to sit on the Yellow Bib’s shoulder. The French star came to the stadium sporting a huge smile, raising his arms to the sky as he crossed the finish line. Samuelsson stayed behind Johannes until the last small drop into the stadium, then sprinting to the Silver medal leaving the Norwegian in the Bronze spot.
Perfect Biathlon Race
Samuelsson, with his first-ever individual IBU WCH medal felt he had a perfect day. “I am very satisfied, but I am most satisfied with my own race today. It was a perfect biathlon race. I hit all the targets; I was good on the skis and I had a good finish. So this race had everything for me. I am very happy that I managed to be this good when it mattered the most.”
Happy with Bronze
Johannes like Samuelsson was satisfied with his day. “I am satisfied. It always depends on how the race is; how you win or lose. Today the performance of Sebastian and Emilien was good biathlon with fast skiing and hitting twenty targets. If I am not at that level, then I should be happy with a Bronze.”
Coming to the last standing, he knew a medal was on the line. “I tried to listen to Simon and Sebastian and almost always heard the hit target. I heard one miss and knew, ‘if I go clean now, I will be fighting for a medal without having to sacrifice and get fourth place.?
Photos: IBU/ Thibaut, Manzoni
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