“The strength of the French biathlon team is that it has been able to keep its technicians”

For Siegfried Mazet, former coach of the Blues, the importance given to the training of young people and technique distinguishes France from its Norwegian rival.

In Beijing, Siegfried Mazet is participating in his second Olympic Games as the main Norwegian shooting coach, with the firm intention of thwarting the tricolor plans. Obviously a special mission for the 44-year-old French technician, ex-mentor and confidant of Martin Fourcade, whom he had under his thumb when he officiated in the same position with the Blues, from 2008 to 2016. During these eight years , he transformed a delegation then stuck in a delicate transition phase after the retirement of Raphaël Poirée into a real winning machine, carried by Martin Fourcade. A few hours before the first start – the mixed relay – synonymous with the first Franco-Norwegian duel, the architect of the move upmarket in French biathlon explains to Freed why discipline is always a great supplier of medals for the tricolor clan.

How do you view this 2022 French vintage?

Since Martin’s departure [Fourcade]it works well, with leaders like Emilien [Jacquelin] and Quentin [Fillon Maillet]. There is a great team, both in the boys and in the girls, carried by Justine [Braisaz-Bouchet] and Julia [Simon]which are beginning to be tested.

Such a density of level…