Sandrine Bailly

Born on 25 November 1979 in Belley, Ain, France, the sunny and always smiling Sandrine Bailly is a former biathlete, one of the most successful and celebrated her country ever produced. Her first year in the sport was 1997 and she made her World Cup debut in 1999. Only one year after her International appearance, on 14 December 2000, Bailly made her first victory in Brezno-Osrblie. She won the 15 km Individual. At the 2001 World Championships in Pokljuka, Bailly competed only in the Individual where ended up 35th and in the relay which came 5th.This first season 2000-2001 Sandrine Bailly finished 28th in the overall. During the 2001-2002, she was a member of the French team for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Event of such importance was the first for the young biathlete. Bailly made an impression with her 9th place in the sprint and 7th in the relay. In the other discipline she took part was the pursuit where was 17th. After the Games, Bailly won two medals at the 2003 World Championships in Khanty-Mansyisk. She took the gold in the 10 km pursuit and the bronze in the mass start. Finished 7th in the sprint, 5th in the relay and 20th in the Individual. Later Bailly won the 7.5 km sprint in Holmenkollen at the end of the season, which she came 6th in the overall. The 2003-2004 was marked already by the fast rising influence of Bailly. She already proved herself to be one of the Top biathletes. And this season Bailly made four World Cup victories. She won the sprint in Kontiolahti on 4 December 2003. Ten days later, on 14 December 2003 won the pursuit in Hochfilzen. Six days afterwards, on 20 December 2003 won the sprint and the next day the following pursuit in Brezno-Osrblie. After New Year, when the World Cup returned after the holiday break, at the 2004 World Championships in Oberhof, Bailly won a bronze medal for the mass start. She finished 4th in the Individual, 5th in the sprint, 12th in the pursuit and 5th with the relay team. The season concluded for her at number 3rd in the overall. Bailly was also 2nd in the sprint overall and 3rd in the pursuit overall. The remarkable Sandrine Bailly made her most successful season in 2004-2005. The fabulous biathlete achieved six World Cup victories. On 12 December 2004 she won the pursuit in Holmenkollen. Four days later, on 16 December won the sprint in Östersund. In January 2005 won the pursuit in Antholz-Anterselva and the next month in Pokljuka, Bailly was an absolute winner in the sprint, pursuit and mass start. All of this is quite enough for the wonderful French biathlete to conclude the season at number 1 in the overall, also number 1 in the pursuit overall and at 2nd position in the sprint overall. The 2005-2006 season Bailly made two World Cup victories. She won the sprint in Ruhpolding and the pursuit in Pokljuka. This season was an Olympic one. Bailly competed at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. She won the bronze in the relay. In the other events placed 6th in the Individual and sprint, 12th in the pursuit and 10th in the mass start. This season Bailly came 4th in the overall and was 3rd in the pursuit overall. During the 2006-2007 she won a bronze medal in the mixed relay at the World Championships in Pokljuka. Bailly didn't take part in any other races. On 12 January 2007 she won the sprint in Ruhpolding, which was her only victory during the whole season. Bailly was 8th in the overall. Luckily the 2007-2008 season, she was on fire once again. Bailly made four victories and finished 2nd in the overall, 2nd in the sprint overall and 1st in the pursuit overall. On 7 December 2007 she won the sprint and on the next day the pursuit in Hochfilzen. Next week in Pokljuka, Bailly won the sprint and on 1 March 2008 the pursuit in Pyeongchang. These were the last World Cup wins of the French star biathlete. However during the 2007 World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva she won two silver medals in the relay and the mixed relay. The next year at the 2008 World Championships in Östersund, Bailly won a bronze medal with the relay. The same thing happened in Pyeonchang's World Championships in 2009. She won a bronze in the relay. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the last Games in her sensational career, Bailly won the silver medal with relay alongside Sylvie Becaert, Marie-Laure Brunet and Marie Dorin-Habert. After the 2009-2010 season she announced her retirement.