Justine Braisaz-Bouchet Skis to World Championship Sprint Gold
France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet fell 34 seconds behind the lead after a prone penalty, but rebounded with a clean standing stage and blazing ski speed in the last loop to win the IBU World Championships Women’s 7.5 km Sprint Gold medal in 22:08.7. Under very snowy, windy conditions, the French star picked up the second individual IBU World Championships Gold medal of her career rafter winning the Mass Start title last year.
“Filled with emotions”
Braisaz-Bouchet who struggled up to this point in the season with a single podium, a win in the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Sprint admitted this, “is really amazing. I am filled with emotions; that’s crazy because my husband and daughter were like that over on the track. I heard some cries during the race. It was pretty funny actually. I did not think about the win against Franziska Preuss until the very end. It was really tough and I ma really happy about this race.”
“Tried to hold my strength”
As for her fast last loop, “I tried to hold my strength all the race around. It was really tough. It was special on the shooting range, because this season so far, I was struggling. Today is the day and I am really happy about this (win).”
Germany’s Franziska Preuss, also with one penalty won the Silver medal, 9.8 seconds back, her second individual IBU WCH medal 10 years after winning Mass Start Silver in Kontiolahti.
“I have been dreaming of this”
Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen shot clean for the Bronze medal, 11.4 seconds back, her first-ever Championship medal and Finland’s first medal since Kaisa Mäkäräinen’s 2017 Mass Start Bronze. The newly minted medalist was overwhelmed. “I am confused but really happy…I have been dreaming of this, but I still think it was unexpected to happen today!”
Switzerland’s Lena Haecki-Gross shot clean in fourth place, 11.4 seconds back. Italy’s Michela Carrara finished in a career-best fifth place, 24.4 seconds back with one penalty. France’s Lou Jeanmonnot finished sixth, with two penalties, 30.9 seconds back.
Cold, Windy Day
The women faced a cold -3C day with strong gusty winds and heavy blowing snow falling. Among the earliest starters, Italy Michela Carrara cleaned prone despite the wind, taking the earliest lead. Suvi Minkkinen of Finland cleaned but was over 20 seconds back after Germany's World Cup Total Score leader Franziska Preuss went 15 seconds up on the field. Braisaz-Bouchet missed a shot, leaving her in 15th, 34 seconds back.
Switzerland's Lena Haecki-Gross was first to clean both stages; Minkkinen matched, getting away .9 seconds faster the Swiss star. Preuss missed a standing shot, leaving with a small 2.1-second lead. With her typical fast skiing and a clean standing, Braisaz-Bouchet jumped into third, 2.9 seconds back.
2025 BMW IBU World Championships Lenzerheide Women's 7.5 km Sprint
Justine Speeds to Gold
Minkkinen’s took the initial lead at the finish. Despite struggling on the last loop and falling back at one point, Pruess dug deep in the final meters for a .2-second lead. Yet, Braisaz-Bouchet was not to be denied, speeding through the last loop taking France’s second Gold medal of these Championships.
Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus
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