No Norwegians on the Podium After French Dominance: – We Were Completely Crushed

Emilien Jacquelin was in a class of his own in the Kontiolahti sprint, showcasing his prowess as he finished 18.9 seconds ahead of Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson, who managed a strong comeback to take second place. The third position was clinched by Germany's Philipp Nawrath.

Unfortunately for the Norwegian shooters, none of them managed to score perfect hits, ultimately costing them dearly. The best Norwegian, Johannes Thingnes Bø, finished in fifth place, 51 seconds behind Jacquelin, after missing two shots in the prone position.

Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen followed closely, finishing sixth, while Tarjei Bø claimed seventh place and Vebjørn Sørum came in eighth despite a remarkable final lap. Sturla Holm Lægreid rounded off the Norwegian results in ninth place.

"We were completely crushed today. It was perhaps a bit too much to expect given how we typically open the season, so it was a bit of a reality check," said Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen to TV 2.

One of the standout surprises was Campbell Wright, a former junior world champion, who finished just off the podium in fourth, impressing with perfect shooting and solid speed, missing the podium by just four seconds.

This race highlighted Jacquelin's return to form, as he dominated the competition, leaving the Norwegian team reflecting on their performance and potential for improvement in future events.