Ukaleq Slettemark Shines in Debut, Defeating Anne de Besche at Winter Olympics
Photo: Marco Bertorello/Ritzau Scanpix
In an impressive display of skill, Ukaleq Slettemark emerged as Denmark’s standout biathlete during Wednesday’s 15-kilometer individual competition at the Winter Olympics. Competing alongside teammate Anne de Besche, Slettemark’s performance left a mark on the event.
With laser-like focus, the Greenlander deftly missed just one of her 20 shots, resulting in a solitary penalty minute. This not only secured her a commendable 52nd place but also placed her ahead of de Besche, who finished in 70th.
“The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, and I felt great on the track,” Slettemark remarked with enthusiasm in an interview with TV 2. “It was a fantastic day.” Her satisfaction with the competition is evident, especially regarding her shooting, a discipline in which she excels with remarkable speed—ranking her among the elite globally.
However, as strong as her shooting was, Slettemark acknowledged the need for improvement in her skiing speed to keep pace with the competition. In contrast, Anne de Besche, who made the switch from the Norwegian national team to represent Denmark last year, showcased impressive speed on skis but struggled with her shooting accuracy. While she started strong, hitting the mark on her first five shots, four final misses led to four penalty minutes, which ultimately affected her overall standing.
At the finish line, Slettemark held a notable lead of 1 minute and 41.4 seconds over de Besche, underscoring the significance of shooting performance in biathlon.
Looking ahead, both athletes will return to the track on Saturday, February 14, for the sprint discipline, which will be a shorter 7.5-kilometer race. Fans are eager to see how they will fare as the competition continues.