Remarkable Gesture from Preuß: "A Moment for Sports History"

Originally published in Sport1 on March 23, 2025

Remarkable Gesture from Preuß: "A Moment for Sports History"

Franziska Preuß secured the overall World Cup title in thrilling fashion, but it was her fair play gesture that left an indelible mark on the sport.

After crossing the finish line at the mass start event on Norway’s Holmenkollen, Preuß showed no immediate celebration. Instead, she turned back to her fallen competitor Lou Jeanmonnot, who had crashed during a fierce battle for the lead. Preuß approached Jeanmonnot, sought a dialogue, and embraced her during their conversation, displaying a commendable act of sportsmanship in what is regarded as one of the greatest moments of her career.

"That’s the biggest gesture from Preuß. She doesn’t celebrate openly. She immediately checks on Jeanmonnot. In this moment, during the peak of her career, being so compassionate is what embodies great sportsmanship. This is a moment for sports history we will recount in the years to come," praised ARD commentator Michael Antwerpes during the broadcast.

Former top biathlete Arnd Peiffer echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Preuß's empathetic nature: "She turns around and feels for her rival, selflessly wondering if Jeanmonnot is upset about the incident and whether she conducted herself fairly in the race."

Preuß later shared her perspective at the ARD microphone, reflecting on their conversation, saying, "I asked her if it was an unfair situation, and I made sure to encourage her to answer honestly. She assured me it wasn’t unfair from the start. It’s genuinely challenging."

In an unexpected twist, France initially filed a protest regarding the race results but retracted it before any judgment was made by the jury.

This act of respect and shared emotions left a positive impression, with Fourcade stating, "That was a significant sign of class, retracting the complaint after reviewing the footage raises the bar for sportsmanship."

Preuß and Jeanmonnot remained side by side in the finish area, both in tears, before they took a victory lap together in front of the main grandstand, capturing the essence of sportsmanship and camaraderie within biathlon.