Botn triumphs in pursuit: “Raw to watch”

In front of a record 21,000 spectators in Le Grand‑Bornand, Johan‑Olav Botn produced a perfect day on the range to win the men’s 12.5 km pursuit at the Biathlon World Cup. The Norwegian hit all 20 shots (4 clean shootings) and crossed the line first, prompting NRK analyst Ola Lunde to call it “raw to watch.”

Teammate Sivert Bakken said he told Botn during summer training—after a series of hard sessions with clean shooting—that he was already “the world’s best biathlete, but nobody knew it.” Botn felt his physical tests and shooting had improved from last year and that this season he’s finally getting chances to show that level.

The victory is Botn’s third World Cup win of the season and of his career, and he heads into the holiday break wearing the yellow leader’s bib. He has hit 127 of 131 shots so far this season (97%). Lunde called Botn’s current shooting form perhaps the best he’s ever seen.

Johannes Dale‑Skjevdal worked with Botn at the front for much of the race before two misses on the final shooting cost him; he still battled to the podium in third behind France’s Émilien Jacquelin in second. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, who started first, slipped to seventh with two misses. Sturla Holm Lægreid placed eighth, Bakken 18th, and Isak Frey 36th. Lægreid, returning from illness earlier in the week, said the body felt back to normal and he was satisfied with the day’s effort.