Pokljuka (Slovenia) (AFP)
The bet may seem very daring, but the Norwegian Johannes Boe still took the risk of changing rifles just before the start of the Biathlon Worlds.
The double holder of the big crystal globe will be able to judge from the sprint on Friday the relevance of this choice and its timing.
In trouble with his shot since the start of the season, Boe has not done things by halves.
Theoretically, it takes a long period of adaptation before you fully master and tame a new weapon.
But for Boe (27) there was clearly no time to waste.
Something was wrong with the Norwegian, whose success rate behind the rifle is in great pain (85%) and who is harassed in the general classification of the World Cup by his young compatriot Sturla Holm Laegreid (23) .
While Boe struggles to find the right gesture, his insolent rival and compatriot panics statistics (92%) and is only 64 points behind his elder.
Boe had already made some modifications to his weapon, but the results were not there and this time he opted for the extreme solution.
The Norwegian therefore called on Athletics 3D, a company based in Villard-de-Lans and managed by Clément Jacquelin, the brother of Frenchman Emilien Jacquelin, who equips many biathletes on the circuit, including Laegreid.
In two weeks, the Isère company succeeded in manufacturing a rifle with 3D ergonomic parts.
"During the World Cup stage in Anterselva (Italy, January 22-24, editor's note), after his average Individual (10th, editor's note), we had a long discussion, says Siegfried Mazet, the French coach shooting range from Norway. He said to me: + I have to change something, I'm not well. + I said to him: + If you think that this is the only way to be well, do it , follow your instinct, I support you. "
- Perplexity -
Boe brilliantly released his new rifle during the mixed relay won by Norway on Wednesday, securing himself an 11th world title.
A performance that does not prevent the small world of biathlon from displaying a certain perplexity.
"It's a big challenge, underlines the French Quentin Fillon-Maillet. I doubt that a new rifle will bring him the success he wants. We can not say that the material makes all the difference. I find it ambitious to change before the Worlds. "
"I hope it is useful for him, but I think it was not the moment," also said Patrick Favre, the Blues' shooting coach.
"No athlete is going to make a difference so close to such an important event."
Boe himself is aware of the daring nature of this change made just before a big deadline but prefers to use humor, as usual.
"I don't think I can do any worse than before, but if it goes wrong I would probably be the dumbest biathlete ever," he blurted out.
- New era -
Siegfried Mazet, for his part, wishes above all to stress the positive psychological impact for his foal, while refuting any "placebo effect".
"The feeling he had with the old rifle, that was not what he wanted, analyzes the French technician. Before, he could not give feedback. There, he gets there and it is a good point."
A feeling shared by Emilien Jacquelin, with whom the Norwegian exchanged a lot before taking the plunge.
"We play a sport where you have to be mentally well and have confidence in your equipment. And if that was not the case for Johannes, it was important for him to make changes to feel good, to be as natural as possible. It's daring, but luck favors the daring, ”he said.
Boe's decision also marks a shift in a new era for biathlon.
The time when the rifle was made by a craftsman in his workshop seems well and truly over.
Now it's time for ergonomic parts designed using 3D printers.
"The technology is advancing, but that's not what makes the shooting move forward," however tempers Patrick Favre.
© 2021 AFP