“Coming into the day, I just had all the confidence that I could ski with the top guys,” said Wright in an interview with SVT. “I skied with Ponsiluoma that second loop and felt pretty in control to be honest. I just figured I really gotta hit the targets on standing. I managed to do it, and honestly, I have no words.”
Teammate Maxime Germain (Chamonix-Mont Blanc, FRA) also hit a World Championship personal best with his 12th place finish. Germain also cleaned his targets, posting a 22nd ski time to set himself up nicely for the pursuit, just +1:08 back from the leading Boe.
Sean Doherty (Conway, NH/Army World Class Athlete Program), with a 45th overall ski time, raced to 41st, missing just one target in prone and cleaning his standing shoot. Paul Schommer (Appleton, WI/Team Birkie/Ariens Nordic Center) placed all four U.S. men in the top 60 with his 56th place finish, despite three misses on the day. This was Schommer’s first World Championship start since 2023 in Oberhof, GER.
