Olympia 2018: Biathlon: Silver for Schempp in mass start – Fourcade with frontal toe

Biathlete Simon Schempp won the silver medal at the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The world champion from Uhingen (1 penalty round) had to admit himself after 15 km in the photofinish very thinly to the French Olympic champion Martin Fourcade (2), who had a foot-tip advantage in the finish line. Bronze went to Sochi winner Emil Hegle Svendsen (2/+11.2 seconds) from Norway. For Fourcade it was the fourth Olympic victory overall.

“When I was at the finish, I wasn’t sure which of us was first,”said 29-year-old Schempp, who won his second Olympic medal after relay silver in Sochi:”I was getting closer and closer on the home stretch. If it had gone five metres further, it might have been enough. But nonetheless, I’m super happy.”

Erik Lesser (2/+11.6) missed the bronze medal by 0.4 seconds and finished fourth. Benedikt Doll (1/+18.8), who had won bronze in the pursuit, rounded off a strong German result in fifth place. Sprint Olympic champion Arnd Peiffer (+1:00,2 minutes) finished 13th after four misses.

The only German medal winner in the mass start had previously been Michael Greis, who won the 2006 competition at the Olympic premiere in Turin.