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Strong Performance from Zoe LaMonte at Biathle/Triathle World Championships

11/8/2016

Sanford junior Zoe LaMonte recently earned a gold medal for Team USA in the Open Youth division at the UIPM Biathle/Triathle world championships in Sarasota, Florida.

Biathle and Triathle (also called modern biathlon and modern triathlon) are sub-sports of the Olympic event modern pentathlon, which combines five different events: fencing, freestyle swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross-country running. Because she is not officially part of a training team, Zoe competed in the Triathle at part of the Open Youth division. After two circuits of the three events—five shot laser pistol, 50-meter lake swim, and 800 meter run—she took first place by a large margin.

On the strength of that event, Zoe was invited by the USA National High Performance Director Genadijus Sokolovas to enter the under-17 girls Elite Division—usually reserved for Team USA members. She competed in the Biathle event of a 1200-meter run, 200-meter lake swim, and another 1200 meter run—giving her a chance to compete against strong athletes from all over the world. Director Sokolovas (usually known as “Coach G”) also invited Zoe to a Team USA training camp where she could participate in a fencing competition and prepare for the US World Cup Pentathlon Qualifier for 2017.

Not bad for just three months of formal training in these events. “It is clear that her success is in part due to the wonderful coaching she gets at Sanford,” said Zoe’s mother Bonnie.

Congratulations to Zoe!

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