Medals update: German sharp-shooter Denise Herrmann wins biathlon 15km individual gold

Germany’s Denise Herrmann raced to a maiden Olympic Winter Games gold medal, winning the women's biathlon 15km individual event in Beijing 2022 on Monday (7 February).

Accuracy on the shooting range made the difference for Herrmann, conceding a single one-minute penalty at the second prone section to claim victory in a time of 44:12.7.

The 33-year-old Herrmann finished nine seconds ahead of runner-up, French athlete Anais Chevalier-Bouchet, with Norway’s Marte Olsbu Roeiseland rounding out the podium for bronze. Finishing third in a time of 44:28.0, Olsbu Roeiseland added to the gold she won in the mixed relay 4x6km two days earlier.

Three-time Olympian Herrmann became only the third German woman to win the gold medal in the 15km individual event while she also won bronze in the cross-country skiing 4x5km relay in Sochi 2014.

"I'm super happy. I phoned my boyfriend and my mother at home, and they are going totally crazy," Herrmann said.

"It's a dream you have as a child and the dream came true today. It's unbelievable."

Keeping her cool

Olsbu Roeiseland was the first athlete out on the course in the staggered start but put herself on the backfoot, missing a shot at the first prone, handing her a one-minute penalty.

Herrmann kept a clean sheet over the first two shooting stages, which gave her the advantage going into her second prone, where she conceded a penalty.

Chevalier-Bouchet, who won the silver medal in the mixed relay in Beijing 2022, looked set to take the victory thanks to pinpoint accurate shooting over the first three stages on the rifle range. But the Frenchwoman missed one shot on the final standing stage while Herrmann kept her cool to keep a clean sheet. Herrmann was the third fastest on the course, which, combined with her sharp-shooting, gave her the victory.

“I was not very satisfied about my relay race. Now I can enjoy my individual medal and also the relay so it's all positive," Chevalier-Bouchet said about her double silver.

"Now I'm free of every result. When I went there I wanted a medal in a relay and an individual medal and after two races I've got two so now I can do freely and that's just perfect."

Olsbu Roeiseland missed two shots which proved costly despite posting the second-fastest time on the course behind compatriot Tiril Eckhoff.

"I just tried to take it one shot at a time and just focus on myself. I think I did it really well but the last shot in the last shooting, I was not so happy about that," Olsbu Roeiseland said. "Maybe I was thinking a bit too much, so that's something I will need to change for the sprints."

Results – biathlon women’s 15km individual

1- Denise Herrmann (GER) 44:12.7
2- Anais Chevalier-Bouchet (FRA) 44:22.1
3- Marte Olsbu Roeiseland (NOR) 44:28.0