Biathletes secure podium sweeps with wins in Finsterau

“That was an amazing race. For the results to be that tight, both of us [me and Ihor Reptyukh] shooting clean – that’s the two titans of this race today,”

A trio of athletes secured podium sweeps of biathlon with wins at the 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing World Championships in Finsterau, Germany, on Saturday (18 February).

The biathlon competitions concluded with the sprint, the last of three medal events to be contested in the Bavarian forest.

Ukraine’s Liudmyla Liashenko (18:25.0) shot clean to double her gold medal count in the women’s standing, adding to her career first world title from the Individual exactly one week ago. The 23-year-old also collected silver in the middle distance.

Liashenko led a podium block-out for Ukraine, beating defending world champion teammate Oleksandra Kononova (19:15.2). Iryna Bui (19:24.1) was third.

Canada’s Mark Arendz (18:30.0) reclaimed his world title from 2013 in the men’s standing. Finding some crucial extra speed by the 5km point, Arendz moved into pole position to claim his second gold and third medal overall.

“That was an amazing race. For the results to be that tight, both of us [me and Ihor Reptyukh] shooting clean – that’s the two titans of this race today,” Arendz said of his close race with the Ukrainian silver medallist.

“It all came down to great skis from the wax techs. For me they were amazing. I just had to push the body and keep skiing as hard as I could.”

Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games silver medallist Arendz edged Reptyukh (18:32.6) by just over two seconds.

France’s Benjamin Daviet (18:57.2) took bronze to add to his silver from 2015 in Cable, USA.

The men’s and women’s visually impaired were both led by Ukrainians.

Paralympic bronze medallist Oksana Shyshkova (20:15.7) broke German hearts with guide Vitalii Kazakov, sealing her second world title in seven days and third biathlon medal.

Germany’s Clara Klug (20:38.8) threw everything she had at the trail and shooting range but settled for her second silver and third medal overall, guided by Martin Hartl.

“It’s just overwhelming,” Klug said. “It was a really good race today, I felt really good on the course.

“I had a lot of fun today. It’s amazing I said I wanted to win three Filus, the mascot of this event, and now I’ve got three. I love it here in Finsterau. A big thank you to the team and my guide Martin Hartl, who yells a lot at me on the course but it really helps!”

Ukraine’s Olga Prylutska (21:42.3) rounded off the top three with guide Volodymyr Ivanov.

Anatolii Kovalevskyi (19:55.9) left with his first Worlds biathlon gold since 2011 in the men’s, guided by Oleksandr Mukshyn.

Belarus’ Vasili Shaptsiaboi (20:15.4) and guide Mikhail Lebedzeu, the Individual world champion, was second.

France’s Anthony Chalencon (20.37.2) broke into the biathlon top three for the first time in his career, claiming bronze with guide Simon Valverde.

The USA’s Oksana Masters shook her head in disbelief as she received her first World Championships winner’s mascot from the women’s biathlon sitting.

The summer and winter Paralympian has found her rhythm on the range this week, after having some doubts about her shooting at the start of the season.

However Masters (20:56.2) gave herself plenty of work to do against Germany’s eventual silver medallist Anja Wicker (21:21.0), dropping two shots. Belarusian Lidzyia Hrafeyeva (21:48.0) joined the podium in third.

Ukraine’s Paralympic silver medallist Maksym Yarovyi (21:36.1) took gold in the men’s sitting on his only appearance in biathlon of Finsterau 2017.

Compatriot Taras Rad (21:48.9) completed a trio of silver medals. Germany’s Martin Fleig (21:50.2) also maintained his 100 per cent podium record with bronze.

Competition at the Finsterau 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships will conclude on Sunday (19 February) with the middle distance cross-country.

Live results and live coverage from the 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships are available at Finsterau2017.com.

Right free pictures for editorial use are available for download at Flickr.

Broadcast quality race footage will also available on request by contacting sascha.beck@paralympic.org.

The competition can also be followed on Facebook.com/ParaNordic, Twitter and Instagram (@ParaNordic).