This retirement was just waiting to be confirmed by Anaïs Bescond. This Friday, it’s done. The 34-year-old triple Olympic medalist has just announced on her social networks that she will hang up her skis after the World Cup which ends this Sunday in Oslo, Norway.
The last women’s sprint of the Biathlon World Cup will be emotionally charged for the Jurassian, Anaïs Bescond. The triple Olympic medalist confirmed on Twitter on Friday that she would retire at the end of this competition which takes place in Oslo, Norway. At 34, she has been one of the pillars of the French women’s biathlon team since 2007. It was in the mixed relay that she best illustrated herself by winning the gold medal at the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018.
Ditto for the World Championships, on these eight podiums, she won gold in the mixed relay in 2016, but also a silver medal in the individual. For the World Cup, she won only one race individually.
All good things come to an end. This spring, I’m going to put my rifle away and I’m going to miss it. I will be just as moved in the coming days wearing my last bibs on this site which saw me debut in the World Cup.
A very good track record
- Olympic Games: 2022 (Beijing) = 9th (Sprint), 29th (Mass Start), 6th by team (Women’s Relay)
- 2018 (Pyeongchang) = Bronze Medal (Pursuit), Team Gold Medal (Mixed Relay), Team Bronze Medal (Women’s Relay)
- 2014 (Sochi) = 5th x 2 (Individual-15 km and Sprint), 10th (Mass Start), 12th (Pursuit), 5th by team (Mixed Relay)
- World Championships = team gold medal (mixed relay), 2016 = Silver Medal x 6 (Individual-15km, 2016 + Women’s Relay, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 + Mixed Relay, 2015 + Bronze Medal (Single Mixed Relay, 2020)
- World Cup (since March 8, 2007 / Sprint, Oslo: 60th, 10/10 in shooting) > 1 World Cup victory* (Anterselva Sprint, January 16, 2014) = 11 World Cup podiums* (2nd x 7, including 2 in 2021-2022 / 3rd x 4), 10th overall in the World Cup (as of January 23, 2022), 7th (2018), 9th (2016), 12th (2015), 34 podiums, including 11 team victories (women’s relay and mixed relay) in the world cup*
* (excluding world championships and Olympic Games)