Simon storms to individual gold; Preuß falters at final shooting

Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide

In the sun-drenched Biathlon Arena in Lenzerheide, French biathlete Julia Simon exploded to gold in the women’s 15 km individual race at the World Championships held on Wednesday, 18 February 2025. Simon’s aggressive pace left her competitors behind; Sweden’s Ella Halvarsson finished with a time delay of +37.8 seconds to claim silver, while Lou Jeanmonnot rounded out the podium with bronze at +39.2 seconds – marking a significant career milestone.

Preuß Criticizes Her Support

Franziska Preuß, who had enjoyed a string of successes earlier in the championships – including a bronze in the mixed relay, a silver in the sprint, and a gold in the pursuit – was unable to maintain her form in the individual race. Preuß, clocking in at +1:53.3 over the winner, struggled during the second standing shooting round where two costly errors cost her dearly. Following the race, the 30‐year-old openly criticized one of her coaches, remarking that the information provided was not up to expectations as previously agreed.

A Debut to Remember for Johanna Puff

Newcomer Johanna Puff, who was only added to the team on Monday ahead of the race, seized the opportunity to impress. With flawless shooting at every station, Puff managed to finish at a respectable 22nd place – a promising debut in a fiercely competitive field.

Other Contestants’ Struggles

Not every competitor fared well; Julia Tannheimer had trouble at the shooting range, incurring one error during the prone stage and three additional mistakes at the final standing shoot. Despite a strong ski performance, these penalties led her to finish 33rd overall.

The event underscored both the high-pressure environment of top-level biathlon and the fine margins that separate victory from disappointment at an international level of competition.