The French delegation came to a halt on Tuesday March 8, with a first day without a medal at the Paralympic Games in Beijing (until March 13). The Blues remain at 5and place in the nations ranking with five medals: three gold, one silver and one bronze.
Benjamin Daviet still can’t do it
New disappointment for Benjamin Daviet, three-time Paralympic biathlon champion in Pyeongchang in 2018. Three days after missing the medal by five seconds in the sprint, the flag bearer of the French delegation again missed his race on Tuesday 8 March, during the 10 km in a standing position. With four shooting errors, the biathlete from Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) had to settle for sixth place.
“It’s windy, but I’m doing very well in training, very well in the warm-up. Afterwards, I was told to watch out for the wind and, of course, I freaked out about the wind. I contradict too much or not enough, and it becomes nonsense from turn to turn. (…) I have to do my own thing, that I forget a bit what the coaches tell me. »
Benjamin Daviet finished 2’41” behind the winner, Canadian Mark Arendz, who won his second Paralympic title at the age of 31, four years after winning gold in the 15 km. For Daviet, there are still several opportunities to unlock the counter. From Wednesday, with the free sprint, an event he will approach with a spirit of revenge. “It’s not complicated, there is no shooting, you don’t have to think. If I’m burnt on arrival, it’s that everything is fine”dropped the Frenchman.
Ukraine, the country of parabiathlon
1⃣-2⃣-3⃣ Ukraine’s ?? third podium sweep during this years’ Games! #Beijing2022 #WinterParalympics #ParaNordic… https://t.co/DPvz8GkEIS
In the absence of Russia, excluded from the Paralympic Games, Ukraine confirms its status as a major country in parabiathlon. The Ukrainians have won 16 of their 17 medals in this discipline, including five out of six titles disputed. They raided again on Tuesday, with two 100% yellow and blue podiums in the women’s 10 km (standing category) and men’s 10 km (visually impaired) events.
During this last race, the Ukrainians even managed an astonishing quintuple! At 43, Vitalii Lukanienko wins his second title in Beijing. He now has eight gold medals in his career, making him the most successful biathlete in Paralympic Games history. The French Anthony Chalençon (31 years old), he had a bad day. The native of Evian, who had a shooting nightmare with 12 faults out of 20 attempts, finished ninth in the race.
Among the women, in the standing category, a Ukrainian trio made up of Iryna Bui, Oleksandra Kononova and Liudmyla Liashenko won the three metals over 10 km. “We are here to fight for Ukraine, with Ukraine and on behalf of Ukraine”said Bui, 26.
That’s how long China’s para-ice hockey team – or sledge hockey – needed to open the scoring in their match against Italy, in seconds, eventually winning 6-0. A feat because China only played its first official match in 2018. The team is led by striker Shen Yifeng, 23, nicknamed “the little storm”. Winner of South Korea 6-0, Canada, defending champion, is already qualified for the semi-finals.
It’s time for Group B in the #ParaIceHockey Italy ?? versus China ??! China open the game with a score from Zhi Don… https://t.co/XUawLmrLtj
France remains fifth in the medal table
Building on its success in alpine skiing (10 podiums) since the start of the Paralympic Games, China is more than ever at the top of the medal table. After four days of competition, the Chinese have already won 27 awards, including eight gold. With 10 charms less, Ukraine is a solid second, ahead of Canada and Japan. France remains fifth, despite its white day on Tuesday.