The French could not do better than a sixth place in the relay on Wednesday. Sweden won the gold medal.
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A real disappointment. Favorites before the race and first in the general classification of the World Cup, Anaïs Bescond, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon could not do better than sixth place in the 4×6 kilometer relay on Wednesday February 16.
Too irregular in shooting, they committed ten faults to finish 2’13 behind Sweden, the gold medalist. The podium is completed by the Russian Olympic Committee (+12′) and Germany (+37’4).
You can climb on the podium four times in as many outings in the World Cup, but seem far from it during an Olympic race. This is the bitter observation made by the France team at the end of this day without. “I have a lot of pain, but it’s sport”sent Justine Braisaz-Bouchet on France Télévisions at the end of the race.
Like her teammates, the biathlete from Albertville did not shine, using two pickaxe balls. If France was in the game after the first stint (Bescond), Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, however twice medalist in Beijing, received a penalty lap. Accustomed to end of races with fanfare, Julia Simon did not weigh either and was also sanctioned with a penalty.
The seventh Olympic medal of the French biathlon will wait. Annoying, even if Sweden, led by Hanna and Elvira Oeberg, showed a very high level on Wednesday. “We will quickly move on, there is still the mass start on Saturday”concluded Justine Braisaz-Bouchet.