Kalkenberg and Botn take Sprints in Kontiolahti

IBU Cup

02 Dec 2023

Kalkenberg and Botn take Sprints in Kontiolahti

Emilie Aagheim Kalkenberg and Johan Olav Botn, both from Norway, are the Sprint winners in Kontiolahti. Kalkenberg shot 10/10 and was the fastest in the tracks, whereas Botn emulated two prone misses with phenomenal skiing for his second consecutive win in Kontiolahti.

Botn wins with furious ski speed

Botn missed the second and fourth shot in the prone, but he compensated them with a furious speed on the skis for a win in 24:36.5. Philipp Horn of Germany, with one miss, finished just 1.2 seconds behind Botn. Clean-shooting Mats Oeverby was third, 4.8 seconds behind his teammate.

Botn also extended his lead atop of the IBU Cup Total Score standings.

The Winners words - Johan Olav Botn

“I was very upset after the two misses in the prone. I got all psyched up in the penalty loops and came onto the shooting range with a good feeling in my head. My performance from the prone until the end was perfect,” said Botn.

Watch Men's Sprint Highlights here

Fourth place went to Martin Uldal from Norway, fifth to Danilo Riethmueller from Germany and sixth to Martin Nevland from Norway.

A perfect race for Kalkenberg

Clean-shooting Emilie Aagheim Kalkenberg of Norway won in the Women's Sprint in in 21:52.1. It was Kalkenberg's fourth win in the IBU Cup. Sara Andersson of Sweden, who also downed all 10 targets, finished second, 23.3 seconds behind Kalkenberg. Ocean Michelon of France, missing one shot in the prone, completed the podium 39.3 seconds behind the winner from Norway.

For Andersson it was a second IBU Cup podium and for Michelon first.

The Winners words - Emilie Aagheim Kalkenberg

"I am really satisfied with my performance. After four misses in the Individual, I took more time on the shooting range today. I cleared all the targets and clocked the fastest skiing time. It is a good start to the season," said Kalkenberg.

Watch Women's Sprint Highlights here

Jeanne Richard of France (10/10 on the shooting range), the winner of the Individual competition in Kontiolahti, finished fourth and remains the IBU Cup Total Score leader before tomorrow's Mixed Relays. 19-years old Julia Kink of Germany, with one miss and third fastest skiing time, finished fifth. The Norwegian Jenny Enodd, with one miss, captured sixth place.