Biathlon | “I launched myself into the unknown”: how, on the day of his first international start, Antonin Delsol won the silver medal in the individual event at the European Junior Championships | Nordic Mag | No. 1 Biathlon

Biathlon: Antonin Delsol new junior European vice-champion in the individual

On the Junior Cup de biathlon d’Altenberg (Germany), support for the European Junior Championships, contested this week, two French people take their first steps on the international scene: the Savoyards Coralie Perrin et Antonin Delsol. If the first city ranked far from the best this Wednesday during the opening individual, the almost 20-year-old Féclazien shone brightly.

Second in the competition, Antonin Delsol actually won a magnificent silver medal on the day of his first start in the Junior Cup.

“I am very happy with this racehe rejoices at the microphone of Nordic Magazine. I thought it was possible, but there was still a step to take to make it happen. I approached this individual in a rather serene state of mind. As I have never been international, I know absolutely no one and I have no point of reference. The only one I had, ultimately, was myself and I raced as myself. »

Two bullets missed on the first shot

Starting at the start of the start list – with bib number 21 out of 135 –, Antonin Delsol had, however, started his race very badly by dropping two cartridges on the first one lying down. “I was able to remobilize myself to make the 15/15 behind on the other three shots”he says.

It is therefore with the 18/20 that the biathlete from La Féclaz (Savoie) finished his racewinning silver behind the Pole Grzegorz Galica and in front of Slovak Asaid Iskhakov. “I don’t know if I thought I could do that, but I didn’t feel incapable of ithe admits. What made the day a success was this fairly serene state of mind. I launched myself into the unknown. In the past, I always narrowly missed selections and I told myself it was because I wasn’t ready. »

After having (finally) taken his selection in January following the French Cups of Prémanon (Jura) and Contamines-Montjoie (Haute-Savoie), Antonin Delsol was therefore well and truly ready.

“This medal doesn’t represent muchputs the Savoyard into perspective. It’s more the race behind it that I’m very proud of. It’s a 90% shooting success race. For the rest of the week, I will continue to focus on my race to produce a good biathlon without necessarily thinking about the result. »

Also read

The last five news