Biathlon: Eric Perrot talks a few days after the end of the World Championships
At the world biathlon championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), Peiserot Eric Perrot won four medals. He was particularly delighted with one of them: the gold in the individual event. On this occasion, he became the fifth Frenchman to be crowned in an individual event at the World Championships, and entered a new dimension.
Early on Friday afternoon, he gave a videoconference interview to several media, including Nordic Magazine. Interview.
- Before leaving for Switzerland, you said you were aiming for gold or nothing. In the individual event, you became world champion. Looking back, what do you think of that performance?
It’s true that I had this phrase because that’s what mattered to me. I wanted to win the title, which was worth so much more than anything else. I’m proud to have succeeded. Sometimes I say that out of ambition and for the dream, but I’ve proved to myself that it’s not so far away, that it’s attainable and possible. It makes me feel better for the deadlines to come to tell myself that my dreams are not so far away. So it’s a real achievement. It’s my first title. To have been able to tick that off is magical. I’m really savouring this first step, because some people can chase a whole career.
- You became the fifth Frenchman to be crowned individual world champion, which is a very small feat in the history of the sport. Is it something you look forward to?
At the time, I didn’t care because I just wanted to achieve my goals. It’s true that it seems a bit crazy to look at the statistics and that’s when I realise that it was an incredible race and something magical.
“I realise that not many people have done it this early in their careers”Eric Perrot
- After you won the title, Fabien Claude said that you were impressive because you burned through the stages. Do you realise that?
I feel like I’m passing each stage, but very quickly. I realise this because I have team-mates with ten years of French team experience behind them and I’m well aware of the feats they’ve achieved, like Quentin [Fillon-Maillet] at the 2022 Games or Emilien [Jacquelin] when he was world champion. I realise that not many people have done it this early in their career. I just feel like I’m following my own voice and my own ambition.
- You see your career as something planned and everything’s going well for the moment, but are you prepared for a possible stoppage or disappointment?
It’s always difficult to prepare for unexpected things, both positive and negative. Having setbacks can be complicated… I’ve had small ones in the past, like when I was relegated to the IBU Cup [in January 2023]. At the time, I handled it well because I was young and on a roll. Maybe next year, if I miss my Games, I might be disappointed. My way of preparing for it is to know that there are other things in life apart from biathlon, but I could never prepare 100% for it.
“I think the body records a lot, and so does the head”Eric Perrot
- You are world champion, having won a total of four medals in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). Have you been able to take advantage of this over the last few days?
It’s all happening so quickly, so I don’t feel like I’ve had much of a break. Nevertheless, I’ve been able to enjoy it, but in a fairly simple way. All I have to do is have a quiet Coke in bed at night and enjoy it. Seeing the people around me again also allowed me to enjoy it. I took a break in my own way, without partying or excess. I have ambitions for the end of the season! I know I’ll have the whole spring to do whatever I want.
- What have you learnt most from these World Championships with a view to the 2026 Olympics in terms of experience?
It’s hard to quantify everything I’ve learnt, but I think the body registers a lot, and so does the head. The difference compared to a World Cup is that there are more people and more media at the event. We’re filmed and listened to at every moment, there are more journalists behind the coaches at the shooting range and so on. It’s important to get used to it, even though it can be unsettling at first. I’ve also been able to gain experience of the other side of things, like the time it takes to win a gold medal.
“It’s personally satisfying to be there in the 20 seconds that count”Eric Perrot
- What are you most proud of, between your great skiing times and your shooting success?
It’s hard to choose! Apart from that, what makes me most proud is being able to do what I want to do. It’s a real source of pride to be able to match my ambitions. In terms of skiing, my ambition was to be able to ski faster to go for gold. I have to admit that I’m really satisfied and proud of what I’ve been able to do on skis. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do on the skis, and I’m also proud of getting to the last shot knowing that I’m in with a chance of winning. It’s personally satisfying to be there in the 20 seconds that count.
- Lenzerheide: Eric Perrot becomes the fifth French individual gold medallist at the World Championships
- Lenzerheide: Peiserot Eric Perrot becomes individual world champion, bronze for Quentin Fillon-Maillet
