Anterselva (Italy) (AFP)
At 23, the youngest member of the French team Julia Simon seemed to have crossed a milestone this season and attacked the Biathlon Worlds with real chances of medals on an individual level. But with her failure in the mixed relay Thursday, she is already facing the first big test of her very young career.
The skier from Les Saisies (Savoie) totally missed her race at the opening of the World Championships, handicapping the Blues from the start (7th) with a penalty lap from her first shot. A sacred tile for the one who suddenly passed this winter from the rank of hope to that of French N.1 with a 5th place in the general classification of the World Cup.
In tears at the finish, will she be able to react while the women's sprint is scheduled for Friday? In any case, she put a lot of pressure on herself and will have to quickly get back into the saddle or risk experiencing a ordeal in Italy.
So far, everything had smiled perfectly at the Savoyarde, author of her first two podiums in December at Ostersund (Individual) and in January at Oberhof (sprint). Simon even did much better than his teammate Justine Braisaz, member of the same club and his three-month-old elder.
The two biathletes grew up together, but their temperaments are the opposite. While Braisaz is often unfathomable, on and off the slopes, and still fishes by too much irregularity, Julia Simon quickly climbed the ladder while displaying detachment and relaxation.
To give herself the means to succeed, she did not hesitate last summer to leave her family environment and her cocoon of the Saisies to settle in La Feclaz (Savoie).
- Fragile balance -
"I realized that at home, there was no infrastructure to progress, she explained before the start of the Worlds. We had to look for shooting ranges, ski-wheel tracks for "La Feclaz is pretty central. For the past 2 years, biathlon has been my big project. I have put all the chances on my side to perform."
Strong choices that were quick to pay on the circuit. But his failure on the mixed relay proves that the balance remains fragile. If Frédéric Jean, the coach of the France ladies team, had praised Tuesday "a big change in mastery" and his "ability not to panic", the gem must still be polished.
It is especially behind the rifle that the Frenchwoman knows big concerns, as she cruelly noted on Thursday. Simon, who prides himself on having "the competitive spirit", indicates having "worked a lot" with Franck Badiou, the new shooting coach of the Blue. With the Olympic vice-champion (1992), ex-technician for men (2016-2018), she was able to put her finger on her little faults and claims to have "revolutionized her technique".
But obviously, it will still take a little time before touching the finger at perfect shooting. Simon, who said he approached the World Cups "without pressure", must in any case quickly find the key so as not to see his stay in the Tyrolean turn into a nightmare and squander his excellent start to the season.
© 2020 AFP