Bátovská Fialková Achieves Fifth Place in Annecy Sprint After Early Season Struggles
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For a while it even looked like a possible win,then a podium. it was a flower ceremony and a beautiful fifth place in the sprint race at Annecy Le Grand-Bornand.
Paulína Bátovská Fialková gave a fantastic performance. After two clean shots on the track, she flew and increased her pace at the end.
“I finally managed to have a perfect race, from the start to the finish. I was able to score the two zeros I had dreamed of and I had a great run. Today will be a perfect day for me, no matter how the result turns out. I will be proud of myself,” she said after reaching the finish line,where she eagerly followed the progress of the race.
“Keep your fingers crossed,” she said with a smile on her face. However, the conditions were excellent and the other biathletes also did well.
She struggled at first
The thirty-three-year-old biathlete did not start the season the way she imagined. She couldn’t rely on either running or shooting, which she trained so conscientiously during the summer.
“More than shooting, I’m worried that I can’t rely on my fast feet. I believe that race after race it will click and I’ll be back,” she told slovak Biathlon after placing 74th in the endurance race in Östersund.
“I felt better running, but I can’t find comfort on the shooting range. I can’t imitate hundreds and hundreds of zeroes from training in the race,” she said after finishing 51st in the sprint race in Hochfilzen.
Her sister ivona Zvaríková often mentioned in the STVR studio that Slovak biathletes lack race pace and it takes some time before they fully jump into the World Cup. Even hundreds of rounds fired in readiness may not bring the desired result right at the beginning of the season.
France bears witness to it
Though, it “clicked” for Bátovská Fialková. everything worked out for her in Annecy Le Grand-Bornand. She posted the fifth fastest time and flawless shooting entries.
“For me, it’s better to start as soon as possible after the shot, while I’m in the swing and don’t have to start.I like when it has a fast fall, so the number 9 is great,” she said before the race.
She confirmed that the French centre is testifying to her. After all, at the same time last year here, she took third place in the race with a mass start after a great finish, when she overtook an tired Jeanne Richardová at the finish line.
Paulína Bátovská Fialková Wins Sprint Race in Annecy-Le Grand Bornand, Silencing French Crowd
Annecy-Le Grand Bornand, France – December 18, 2025 – Slovakian biathlete Paulína Bátovská fialková achieved a stunning victory in the women’s sprint race at the IBU World Cup in Annecy-Le Grand Bornand today, overcoming a strong challenge from France’s Lou Jeanmonnot.
“And today I finally succeeded,” Bátovská Fialková said after the race.
The final lap proved decisive, with Bátovská Fialková dramatically closing the gap on Jeanmonnot, ultimately securing the win. Her performance stunned the French audience, who had anticipated a home victory.
“The last lap was very difficult.I was watching the split times and I felt like I wasn’t losing to her at all, but I wasn’t gaining either.It wasn’t until the very end that I managed to drop a few seconds. I was incredibly happy at the finish line when I saw the number 1 next to my name,” she explained.
Bátovská Fialková also expressed a touch of regret for spoiling the French festivity. “Maybe I should apologize for ruining the French celebration today. if there was any reaction from the French audience, it was silence,” she added.
[image of Paulína Bátovská Fialková at the ceremony after the sprint race in Annecy-Le Grand Bornand. (Author: Igor Stančík/Slovak Biathlon)]
Other Slovak Results:
Mária Remeňová also qualified for Saturday’s pursuit race, finishing 46th with one penalty. Ema Kapustová narrowly missed qualification, finishing 61st despite a clean shooting performance, just two tenths of a second behind the cutoff. Zuzana Remeňová, returning to the World Cup after success in the IBU Cup, finished 86th.
The women’s pursuit race is scheduled for Saturday, December 20th at 12:15 p.m.local time.Bátovská Fialková will start with a 16.2-second deficit.
[Image of Paulína Bátovská Fialková with her daughter. Caption: Her daughter’s smile drives her to the finish line. The secret? As I have stamina from sports, it helps me, says Bátovská Fialková]
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