Sometimes there are tasty coincidences. A women’s relay will launch the new biathlon season this Saturday (1:15 p.m.) in Östersund, Sweden. A test which often succeeds for French women but which this time takes on a special character, taking into account the latest events.
“The bank card affair” is not new, since the facts date back to 2022 and have not prevented Les Bleues from shining since then, despite the accusations made by Justine Braisaz-Bouchet against her teammate Julia Simon. The recent conviction of the latter by the Albertville court – to three months suspended prison sentence and a 15,000 euro fine for theft and bank card fraud – nevertheless brought to the forefront the funny atmosphere which reigns within the French team.
Especially since another affair, since denied by the French Ski Federation (FFS), emerged during preparation. Justine Braisaz-Bouchet would have, according to Dicodusport, surprised the young Jeanne Richard (23 years old) trying to tamper with the settings of the rifle of Océane Michelon (23 years old). “No act of nuisance between athletes of the French biathlon team has been established”, however clarified the FFS, recognizing however “a breach of the rules of group life”, having, “at the end of an internal investigation, given rise to a sanction. »
A simple “breach of the rules” – much less serious than a suspicion of sabotage – which nevertheless created a stir, particularly abroad where, a few weeks before the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games (February 6 to 22), certain delegations would happily pay for the scalp of a French women’s team promised medals.
Podiums together without really loving each other
It is therefore no longer a secret that the Blues climb the podiums, together, without really liking each other. Whatever. The long years spent within the collective have completed the links, in particular between Julia Simon (29 years old) and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (29 years old), who have known each other since childhood having both grown up near Les Saisies (Savoie). The fact remains that, from now on, the French women will have to deal with the gaze of others, cast on them at each race start. And not just those who enjoy watching them win.
“It’s a situation that weighs on French biathlon, because it has necessarily had an impact on the rest of the group for too long now,” said Martin Fourcade, a figure in French biathlon, on the Ski Chrono website. I find that, despite all these earthquakes, the group has kept a unity, even if it is not easy. We’ve seen it in other sports, there are quite a few houses where it would have imploded. Despite the difficulty, the girls managed to remain professional and human. » Tactfully, coach Cyril Burdet, whose departure rumors were unfounded, keeps the group afloat.
While this first stage of the World Cup will include 10 events, spread out until December 8, Julia Simon, suspended for one month by the Federation, will be missing. All eyes will be turned in particular to Lou Jeanmonnot (27 years old), whose name has never been mentioned in any of the cases. Last season, she narrowly missed winning the big crystal globe, a trophy awarded to the biathlete who finished at the top of the general classification of the World Cup.
Lou Jeanmonote is a leader?
Her tears in the finish area after the mass start of Oslo-Holmenkollen – where, victim of a fall in the last lap, the Doubiste ended up giving in to the German Franziska Preuss – are a thing of the past. “Emotionally, I quickly got over it because I was very well surrounded,” she explains. I managed to take the necessary step back to tell myself that I had the yellow jersey (from leader of the general classification) for two days when Franziska Preuss had it all season. There was a form of logic. »
She will be one of the favorites of an “uncompromising” season. “I’m excited about having an Olympic season. This will be my first. The Olympics are the goal, but the World Cup fits perfectly into the path to getting there. »