2023-12-04 11:35:10
We were waiting for Julia Simon or Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, it is ultimately Lou Jeanmonnot who has been shining brightly since the start of the 2023-2024 Biathlon World Cup. This Sunday, the Frenchwoman scored a second consecutive victory, winning the pursuit of Östersund, under the nose of the German Franziska Preuss, two days after winning the sprint.
Officially on the main international circuit since last season, the 25-year-old Pontissalian has never won an individual gold medal in an event of this importance. This is not a surprise though. Titled in the individual event during the Junior World Championships in 2017, Lou Jeanmonnot has been one of the great promises of French biathlon for several years. Since this coronation, she has climbed the ranks one by one, notably winning the big crystal globe of the IBU Cup, the second division of biathlon, in 2021-2022, just before moving to the next level.
“She is an athlete who was able to be present at each stage of her construction,” emphasizes Marie-Laure Brunet, double medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics. We have often seen athletes who won medals in juniors who did not confirm on the international circuit. But we saw her really evolve on the different circuits and she knew how to find her place on this World Cup circuit. »
Top 6 objective
This week, the Frenchwoman took things a step further. Imperial in shooting, with two flawless shots in the two races she won, Lou Jeanmonnot also held up perfectly on skis, particularly in the face of pressure from Franziska Preuss. In difficulty in the last laps of the pursuit, the biathlete measured her effort to save herself and achieve victory in the final straight. “She handled it like an experienced athlete, being present at strategic places on the track to drive the point home in the final straight,” analyzes Marie-Laure Brunet. In terms of strategy, she showed a lot of maturity in these two races. »
Now second in the general ranking of the World Cup, just three points behind its competitor of the day, the tricolor is well within the time limit of its objectives. “With the progression I have had, I think I can say that I can go for a top 6, with regular podiums,” she admitted at the start of the season. A result that is largely achievable, in particular thanks to its qualities on the shooting range.
Shooting is Lou Jeanmonnot’s main strength. Photo Icon sport Authamayou / Icon Sport
Shooting specialist
Last season, Lou Jeanmonnot flirted with 90% success in all races. This weekend, it was also with her rifle in hand that she made the difference, notably being the only one to achieve a faultless finish among the first fifteen in the sprint. “For several seasons, she has managed to build and understand what a solid shot is,” analyzes Marie-Laure Brunet. It’s no coincidence what she’s pulling out behind the rifle. Physically, she shows that she is one of the skiers who can go fast, but it is true that shooting is her asset, her all-risk insurance card. She can rely on her reliability to be at the forefront week after week. »
Enough to win a crystal globe in his first full season among the elite? The Frenchwoman dominates in any case two categories, the sprint and the pursuit, thanks to her two victories. But in each of its events, there are six races remaining. The road is still long. At a press conference, Lou Jeanmonnot, however, already announced that he wanted more. “That means I’m capable of winning. From there, the winter promises to be interesting,” she rejoiced.
“She has ambitions, she announces them and a priori, that doesn’t do her any harm,” notes the double Olympic medalist. She knows where she’s going, she’s going to keep a cool head, she’s a humble athlete, so I think she’s really in the right direction and this is just the beginning with, why not, a good place in the general or a small globe in the key. » Enough to compensate for the big disappointment at the start of the season: Julia Simon.
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