Biathlon: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet opens up about the credit card affair
On Wednesday, the French women’s biathlon team were in the media just a few days before the end of their final preparation camp in Bessans (Savoie). The gathering was made all the more special by the absence of Julia Simon, who has been suspended for a monthby the FFS National Disciplinary Committee following her conviction for theft and fraud.
Savoy native Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, one of the victims of the affair that shook the French biathlon world, spoke to L’Equipe at the press briefing.
I’m managing as I have done for the last two years,” she began, answering a question about the last few weeks. I’m doing my best to keep a balance between what’s happening on the pitch and what might be extra-sporting.
“I’m an athlete mum. I leave my family to come on training courses, to go to competitions and it’s all about sport when I leave, because it’s hard enough to leave a little girl of almost 3 years old. It’s a dual project. It’s been my dream since I got pregnant to take part in this Olympiad and to live the best years of my career. That’s what I work for, and I try to ignore everything else as much as possible. It’s not always easy,” continued the reigning Olympic mass-start champion.
“It touches you in the moment”.
Although she explains that “this judgement allows us to focus even more on the athlete”, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet reveals that the barrage of insults received following the media revelations about the case was sometimes difficult to digest.
“It’s not always easy because I’m human and there are things said or written that are unfair and untrue, sometimes defamatory. It’s hard at the time,” she admits. I try to take a step back from it all and I tell myself that it’s also the way networks work. I tried to stay away from it all, [but] that wasn’t always the case. I’m still aware of what’s been said. It’s what people think. I don’t think I have to justify myself in any way, at least not in relation to the written insults.
Asked about group life within the French team in the wake of the affair, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet says that there are “affinities everywhere, in all walks of life”.
Now all I need is respect and fair play,” she says. I think that whenever something seemed to deviate from those values, I always tried to be honest, to respect the members of the team and the work of the team as a whole.
“I’m going to do my bit”.
While Julia Simon could return to the World Cup as early as the second stage in Hochfilzen (Austria) at the beginning of December, her team-mate is far from closing the door and vetoing her return.
I’m going to keep things separate,” she says. Once again, I really want to respect any athlete. That’s what I do. I respect all performances. I’ll do my best to be fair. [I sincerely respect the athlete. There’s no question about that. As long as they respect me too and I can do my job and they don’t hinder my sporting career, there’s nothing to talk about.
- “I recognise the facts”: Julia Simon admits to theft and fraud at her trial
- Julia Simon given three-month suspended prison sentence and fined €15,000 in bank card fraud case
- Sentencing of Julia Simon: reaction from the French Ski Federation, which “takes note” of the verdict
- Julia Simon case: FFS national disciplinary committee to meet on 6 November
- “Such behaviour may fall under the code of integrity”: Julia Simon could also be sanctioned by the Biathlon Integrity Unit
- Julia Simon case: how the FFS national disciplinary committee will proceed and the range of sanctions it may impose
- The penalty has been imposed: Julia Simon has been suspended for six months, five of which have been suspended, by the French Ski Federation’s National Disciplinary Commission.
- No training camp or races in Bessans, unable to take part in the Östersund World Cup, eligible for selection for the Olympics: the sporting consequences of Julia Simon’s one-month suspension.
- Julia Simon case: La Beaufortaine does not appeal against her one-month suspension
- Julia Simon suspended for one month: the Biathlon Integrity Unit is waiting for the end of the appeal period to “examine the decision”.
