Jeanmonnot on the ground: “She closes the door on me...”

Lou Jeanmonnot experienced a rollercoaster of emotions at the women's World Cup finals at Holmenkollen in Oslo – one that ended in an absolute nightmare. After her fatal crash and the loss of the overall World Cup title, she spoke out. Franziska Preuß, on the other hand, showed her greatness.

March 23, 2025

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The TV viewers were treated to distressing scenes a few minutes after the race. Lou Jeanmonnot sat huddled on the ground in the team zone, being comforted by coaches, support staff, and teammates. The shock was written all over the 26-year-old's face – and it was all too understandable. In the final 500 meters, Jeanmonnot fell through her own fault in a direct duel with Franziska Preuß and gave the big crystal ball away in a dramatic way.

The German camp was just a few meters away from the French team, but Preuß's camp wasn't exactly happy. Partly out of respect for Preuß's rival, but partly due to the fact that neither athlete had wanted such a finale. But once Preuß had changed and prepared for the upcoming interview marathon, the champagne corks popped, and the 31-year-old was duly celebrated.

Preuß and Jeanmonnot together at the top

Shortly after the dramatic finale, Preuß demonstrated her greatness and underscored that she had not only won the overall World Cup on Sunday, but also on a human level. Just seconds after the greatest triumph of her career, she approached Jeanmonnot, hugged her, and comforted her. At the victory celebration, she finally brought her rival to the top step of the podium with her. Two yellow jerseys at the top – an image for the history books.

Franziska Preuß and Lou Jeanmonnot on the podium. © APA/afp / TERJE PEDERSEN

"Of course I apologized. It was a stupid situation. But Lou said from the beginning that she had put the stick between her legs and that nothing was unfair," Preuß said in an interview with ARD on Jeanmonnot's crash. "It's very emotional right now. It's a strange feeling because I didn't want to end it like this. It was a sick fight, considering we're going into the final lap together."

Jeanmonnot explains her fall

Jeanmonnot appreciated Preuß's gestures and was already smiling again at the awards ceremony. In dealing with this bitter low point, she refrained from making any accusations. "She's closing the door on me in a very conventional way," she said in an interview with the French sports newspaper The Team. "I would have done the same thing in her place."