Caroline Colombo
Caroline Colombo (born 16 April 1996) is a French retired biathlete who competed internationally from 2015 to 2025.
Early life
[edit]Colombo, born in Pontarlier, France, was a member of the A.S. Mouthe club and trained at the Lycée Xavier-Marmier in Pontarlier.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Colombo began her international career in December 2015, participating in the IBU Junior Cup. She secured her first victory in this competition a year later in Lenzerheide.[3][4] In July 2017, she suffered a severe injury during a roller ski training session in Font-Romeu, resulting in an open fracture and dislocation of her ankle.[5] Despite medical opinions suggesting a potential end to her career, she underwent a lengthy rehabilitation and returned to competition a year later.[6][7] She transitioned to senior-level competitions, achieving her first IBU Cup victory in December 2018 in Obertilliach in the individual event.[8] In the 2021–22 IBU Cup season, Colombo won the sprint discipline title and finished 8th overall.[3][9]
Colombo made her World Cup debut in January 2019 in Oberhof.[10] Throughout her career, she participated in 58 World Cup events, with her most notable individual performance being a 5th place finish in the mass start at Östersund in 2023.[11][12] She achieved her sole World Cup victory in a mixed relay event in Nové Město in March 2023.[3][4]
In the 2021 European Biathlon Championships held in Duszniki-Zdrój, Colombo won a silver medal in the single mixed relay event.[13][14]
Health challenges and retirement
[edit]In November 2023, Colombo was diagnosed with neuropathy,[15] a condition causing chronic pain and fatigue, which significantly impacted her performance.[11] After struggling with the condition for over a year, she announced her retirement from professional biathlon on 5 February 2025 at the age of 28.[16][17]
Honours
[edit]- IBU Cup: sprint discipline title (2021–22 season)
- European Biathlon Championships: silver medal - single mixed relay (Duszniki-Zdrój, 2021)
- Biathlon World Cup: 1 victory - mixed relay (Nové Město, 2023)
References
[edit]- ^ "Pontarlier. Section ski au lycée Xavier-Marmier : l'école des champions". www.republicain-lorrain.fr (in French). 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "COLOMBO Caroline". www.biathlon.com.ua. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "DATACENTER". biathlonresults.com. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ a b "International Biathlon Union - Athlete profile for Caroline COLOMBO". International Biathlon Union - IBU (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Magazine, Nordic (29 June 2017). "Biathlon : Caroline Colombo blessée | Nordic Mag | N°1 Biathlon | Ski nordique". www.nordicmag.info (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Biathlon - IBU Cup. Biathlon : Le magnifique retour de Caroline Colombo (AS Mouthe) après une grave blessure à la cheville". www.estrepublicain.fr (in French). 1 December 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Caroline Colombo, la miraculée". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Biathlon - IBU Cup seniors. Biathlon. Caroline Colombo (Mouthe) vainqueur à Obertilliach: "Si on m'avait dit ça il y a un an, je n'y aurais pas cru"". www.estrepublicain.fr (in French). 19 December 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "International Biathlon Union - Athlete profile for Caroline COLOMBO". International Biathlon Union - IBU. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Biathlon - Coupe du Monde. Biathlon. Pour le pire et pour le meilleur, l'incroyable destin de Caroline Colombo (Mouthe)". www.estrepublicain.fr (in French). 10 January 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Biathlon - Equipe de France. « Une saison blanche pour moi » : Caroline Colombo finalement privée de compétition". www.ledauphine.com (in French). 8 February 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Biathlon - Coupe du monde . Caroline Colombo décide d'arrêter sa carrière : « Le moment de fermer un chapitre précieux de ma vie »". www.ledauphine.com (in French). 5 February 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Biathlon. Championnats d'Europe : Caroline Colombo et Emilien Claude médaillés d'argent en relais mixte simple à Duszniki Zdroj". www.ledauphine.com (in French). 31 January 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Burgaud, Florian (31 January 2021). "Biathlon | Duszniki Zdroj : l'argent pour Emilien Claude et Caroline Colombo | Nordic Mag | N°1 Biathlon | Ski nordique". www.nordicmag.info (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Biathlon. Caroline Colombo souffre d'une neuropathie, son absence est indéterminée". www.ledauphine.com (in French). 16 November 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Biathlon. À 28 ans, Caroline Colombo dit adieu à l'équipe de France et prend sa retraite". Ouest-France. 5 February 2025.
- ^ Burgaud, Florian (5 February 2025). "Biathlon : Caroline Colombo annonce la fin de sa carrière | Nordic Mag | N°1 Biathlon | Ski nordique". www.nordicmag.info (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2025.