Another feat for Raphaël Poirée

France's Raphaël Poirée couldn't have asked for a better season finale. The Frenchman was crowned world champion on Sunday in the 15-kilometre mass start in Oslo, Norway, en route to sealing his third consecutive Biathlon World Cup.

Three consecutive world titles in the mass start and three straight World Cup crystal globes, Poirée finished his biathlon season in style on Sunday, in front of the native country of his wife, Liv Grete. Carrying both the French and Norwegian flags across the finish line, Poirée became Norway's adopted son.

Capturing his sixth individual victory of the season, in addition to silver (pursuit) and bronze (relay) medals at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 27-year-old confirmed that he is the most consistent and talented athlete on the men's biathlon circuit.

The Frenchman may have been disappointed in his failure win gold at the Winter Games, but he made up for it with his steady, all-season greatness while his Olympic nemesis, Ole Einar Björndalen, never provided a challenge in the chase for the crystal globe.

However, 50 podiums, 21 victories, four world titles, three crystal globes and two Olympic medals are not enough for Poirée. The Frenchman wants Olympic gold, which is why he has decided to compete until the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

Until then, Poirée may sit out next year's Biathlon World Cup season and focus on cross-country skiing, which is a shame since his wife – in the absence of the soon-to-be-retired Magdalena Forsberg – will aim for her first title in 2003. How many times does one witness husband and wife World Cup champions?