A shock in Molde: the mass start of the Norwegian Championships was won by a biathlete who had to change nationality to keep her career alive.
At 25, Anne De Besche is far from an unknown. For nearly eight years she has been among the top 15 biathletes in Norway and even won a world junior title earlier in her career.
Her rise was slowed by health problems and inconsistent results, leaving her without a place in the ultra-competitive national team. As a senior she never managed to break into the IBU Cup level, and over time it became clear that the doors to the Norwegian squad would not open.
This summer she announced her move to Denmark, the country of much of her family’s heritage. In Norway the news passed almost unnoticed, but three months later she delivered a stunning reminder of her talent.
At the weekend in Molde she finished third in the sprint and then caused a sensation by winning the mass start with a perfect 20/20 on the range, beating the entire Norwegian elite.
Switching her sporting passport seems to have given Anne De Besche fresh energy. And the irony is clear: just as she leaves Norway, she has finally made her name at home.
