JT Boe Doubles Up: Defends 20 km Individual Title

Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe, after a first-stage penalty, cleaned the next three stages and skied at a torrid, dominating pace on the tracks, winning the IBU World Championships Men’s 20 km Individual Gold medal in 45:49, defending the title he won last February in Oberhof. This evening’s win was the five-time IBU World Cup Total Score winner’s second consecutive title defense this year, coming on the heels of his pursuit win on Sunday. JT now has two Golds and two Silver medals at this year’s Championships.

“A great win”

JT, after skiing 58 seconds faster than anyone else in the field, admitted his fifth individual Gold medal in the last two IBU World Championships was, “a strong performance. When the course time is back, the shooting is strong, then you have a great win.”

“Cannot let doubt take you” on the range

Regarding his 19-of-20 extremely fast shooting, “You cannot let the doubt take you. If you stay too long, especially in the standing shooting, everything can happen. I tried to be in position and attack, so that the negative thoughts had not time to come. I really attacked and ended with 19-of-20; it is a great performance.”

Boedium

JT’s older brother Tarjei made it another Boedium, finishing second, also with a single penalty, 58.9 seconds back. JT called that, “really a dream come true. I guess we are two happy brothers today.” The elder Boe who also won a Silver medal in last week’s mixed relay now has 24 IBU World Championships medals in his trophy case.

Germany’s Benedikt Doll, also with a single penalty won the Bronze medal, 1:53.9 back. Today’s medal was Doll’s second career individual IBU WCH medal, after his 2017 Sprint Gold medal.

Latvia’s Andrej Rastorgujevs, with two penalties finished in a IBU WCH career-best fourth place, 2:50.2 back. France’s Emilien Jacquelin, with one penalty finished fifth, 3:03.2 back. Jacquelin’s teammate Quentin Fillon Maillet, with three penalties finished sixth, 3:16.2 back.

First Stage Penalty

Shooting conditions were perfect like the women had yesterday, virtually no wind on the range, yet in the end, only one of the 100 finishers shot clean. JT one missed shot in the first prone proved to be his only miscue of the day. Doll and Tarjei both cleaned, with the Norwegian atop the leaderboard.

Overcoming the Penalty

JT skied the second loop very quickly, cleaning standing, and nullifying the effect of his prone penalty with the first of three consecutive clean stages. Doll matched, taking the lead when Tarjei missed a shot.

JT and Doll were both perfect in the second prone, leaving 1-2, separated by 4 seconds, with Tarjei third.

2024 BMW IBU World Championships Nove Mesto na Morave Men's 20 km Individual

JT, Benni, and Tarjei

The Yellow Bib dropped the last five standing targets in quick succession, sealing the Gold medal. Doll missed his third shot, while Tarjei dropped his last five shots as fast as his brother, moving ahead of Doll, setting the podium.

Photos: IBU/ Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus

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