Clean-shooting Julia Simon, Bests Elements, Wins Pokljuka Short Individual ahead of Hanna Oeberg

BMW IBU World Cup

13 Mar 2025

Clean-shooting Julia Simon, Bests Elements, Wins Pokljuka Short Individual

Warm temperatures, yesterday’s heavy rain and very wet snow made the tracks slow and sloppy, but France’s World Champion Julia Simon bested the elements this afternoon, shooting clean for a 38:08.2 win in Pokljuka Women’s 12.5 km Shot Individual. Simon’s third win of the season was her second consecutive victory in an Individual competition after taking the WCH title in Lenzerheide last month.

“Lucky to win”

Simon considered herself lucky to start early with bib 19 in the tough conditions. “It was a tough race today. I think I was lucky to start in the front of the race, because when I watched the shooting range 10 minutes ago, the wind was stronger than during my race. On the shooting range, it was quite okay during the race, but the tracks were very difficult. It was a difficult race; I feel really happy and lucky to win this race today.”

Win in Every Discipline

The short individual win gave the 2023 World Cup Total Score winner a victory in every discipline. “Really happy, for being a good biathlete, you have to win in each discipline; very happy to shoot twenty in individual races.”

Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg, with one penalty finished second, 39.1 seconds back. Yellow Bib Franziska Preuss of Germany shot clean for third place, 46.2 seconds back. "My focus was shooting clean. It was really important in the last loop, because I lost a lot of seconds there."

Big Personal Best for Heidjenberg

Hanna’s teammate Anna-Karin Heidjenberg, also with one penalty finished in a career-best fourth place 46.2 seconds back, improving from her previous best 14th place in the season-opening Kontiolahti Short Individual. Simon’s teammates Oceane Michelon and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, both with two penalties finished fifth and sixth, 1:06.9 and 1:19.4 seconds back.

Jeanmonnot wins World Cup Individual Score

Seventh place Lou Jeanmonnot of France, with two penalties, 1:43.6 back scored enough points today to win her first-ever small Crystal Globe for the World Cup Individual Score.

The rescheduled individual competitions opened in the tough conditions, with the typical Pokljuka shooting range wind. Simon cleaned the first prone stage but lagged 26 seconds back while Hanna was just 2.4 seconds from the lead.

Braisaz-Bouchet retained her lead with a clean first standing stage, with Michelon matching 10 seconds back. Jeanmonnot missed a shot, dropping 54 seconds back, but Simon cleaned the first standing moving to third, but 26 seconds behind Hanna and Michelon.

Both Hanna and Simon went to 15-for 15 in the second prone, with the Swede holding an 18-second lead. In the final standing, Simon cleaned taking over the top spot. Hanna missed her last shot, dropping her to third. But Hanna powered through the last loop, moving into second at the finish.