Frenchman Emilien Jacquelin retained his world title in the pursuit on Sunday in Biathlon World Championships à Pokljuka.
Jacquelin, who beat the Swede Sebastian Samuelsson and the Norwegian Johannes Boe with a magnificent 20/20 behind the rifle, offers himself a second medal in Slovenia after the bronze gleaned during the sprint on Friday and the 6th of his career at the Worlds.
This is the 4th podium for France and the first title since the start of the competition for the Blues after the silver of Simon Desthieux (men’s sprint) and Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet (women’s sprint) and the bronze of Jacquelin on the sprint.
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Having started 13 seconds late, Jacquelin (25) fell into the lead after the first lying shot with Johannes Boe before finding himself alone in first position following his second passage on the shooting range, taking advantage of ‘a mistake by the leader of the World Cup. He then widened the gap with supersonic standing shots.
Jacquelin thus confirmed that he was the man for big events and that he excelled in direct confrontation races since his two successes on the circuit were acquired each time in pursuit at the Worlds. He becomes the 2nd Frenchman to keep his world crown in this specialty after his idol Martin Fourcade.
Behind Jacquelin, the Blues were still at the forefront, Quentin Fillon-Maillet finishing 4th and Simon Desthieux 5th.
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