Julia Simon clinches overall World Cup title as Denise Herrmann-Wick wins ahead of retirement

Julia Simon claimed her first-ever crystal globe with a fifth-place finish in the women’s sprint in Oslo as Denise Herrmann-Wick won the penultimate race of her career.

Simon became the first French female biathlete to win an overall World Cup since Sandrine Bailly in 2005.

Her total of 1048 points leaves her untouchable ahead of the 12.5km mass start to come and secured the historic victory.

Herrmann-Wick brought her sprint career to a golden end with victory in the event.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg finished 3.5 seconds behind for second and compatriot Anna Magnusson clinched third place.

Herrmann-Wick announced her retirement from biathlon this week and took her 11th World Cup triumph in the last sprint race of her career.

“It’s very emotional right now,” she said. “It’s really pure pleasure and I’m incredibly proud and happy that we can enjoy the day like this.”

Johannes Thingnes Boe continued his perfect week with victory in the men’s 12.5km pursuit, to claim the crystal globe in the discipline.

The Norwegian, who has already secured the overall World Cup title, recently fought off a battle with Covid to take victory over France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet by 32.7 seconds in the pursuit in an overall time of 32:34.0.

Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid notched third with only the mass start left in the season.