Biathlon: first medal at the World University Games for Paul Fontaine
This Monday morning, Haut-Savoyard Paul Fontaine added a line to his list. Already world junior relay champion and European junior pursuit champion in 2022, Bornandin won a bronze medal at the Turin 2025 World University Games.
On the Olympic site of Pragelato (Italy), he started, during the pursuit, in seventh position, 30 seconds from the lead. A sufficient gap to aim for the podium at the end of the race. “I know that I perform quite well in this type of format and I also knew that it was going to be a lot of trouble. So I had my chancehe indicates to Nordic Magazine. The more the races progressed, the more I felt that I approached the races with serenity. I was ready to fight. »
After a good 9/10 on prone shots, Paul Fontaine fought, in the snow and in the wind, during his passages on the mats in a standing position.
“There was a little excitement at the last shot, but it still smiled on mehe remembers when he signed on 16/20. I end up with the Ukrainian [Serhii Suprun] in the last lap [pour l’argent]. We worked together, I tried to push myself just before the start of the last difficult section, but, unfortunately, I didn’t close the door enough on him and he overtook me. »
-Critics as a driving force
So, the biathlete from Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) crossed the finish line in third positionbronze medal up for grabs. “I arrived at these World University Games with ambition and I would say that this medal confirms my rise in power during this championshiphe said. I’m very happy and I know that I can still aim for better in the mass start! »
Another driving force, inherent to the life of high-level athletes, pushed Paul Fontaine to give everything to win this world university medal: harsh criticism received on social networks after his short individual finished in fourteenth place. “People don’t realize how much effort it takes. I wanted to respond to this personadmits the native of Angevin from the Haute-Savoie Nordic Team. She must have seen what I’m talking about! »
Moreover, Paul Fontaine, who had the objective this season of coming back and settling in the IBU Cup, climbs onto this podium even though this goal has not been achieved. “This season has not always been very easyhe agrees. I quickly felt that I was not in the lead for the IBU Cup. These World University Games, that was a really cool secondary goal to play for. I am very happy and content to be there and I do not regret this choice at all. »
