Biathlon: Maëla Correia looks back on her 2024/2025 winter
Last winter, in biathlon, the Massif des Vosges ski committee was more than well represented internationally by its stars Fabien Claude, Paula Botet, Emilien Claude, Florent Claude and newcomer Amandine Mengin.
But at national level, on the French Cup circuit, another rider from the Vosges showed herself in a good light: Maëla Correia, Amandine Mengin’s (almost) lifelong friend. In her first season as a junior rider, the 20-year-old from Bresse scored eight podium finishes in the U22 category, including two victories.
All this despite a truncated preparation period – spent with the brand new Vosges Elite Ski Team.
“In June, I went into hospital because I had mononucleosis, she tells Nordic Magazine. I was completely out of action for two months, then I resumed in August, but it was a crescendo with weeks of 6 or 8 hours of training. It was in September that I was really able to get back into the group by taking part in the training courses. I didn’t prepare 100%, so I thought it was going to be a complicated season.”
“Being French champion is always a plus”
The first competitions were indeed difficult for Maëla Correia, who was far down the rankings until the second stage of the French Cup held in Les Saisies (Savoie) in mid-December.
“I was at the back of the queue and at the end of my rope, she recalls. In the end, the more things progressed, the better I felt. In the selections for the World Juniors, I was first reserve! Yes, I didn’t go, but being a substitute was still cool! At the start of the season, I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to finish, so I’m pretty happy about that.”
The Vosgienne didn’t stop there, however, and in March at Peisey-Nancroix (Savoie), she had a remarkable U22 French Championships , winning silver in the sprint and gold in the pursuit.
“It was clearly my best weekend of the season. I wasn’t really expecting it, says Maëla Correia. Being French champion is always a plus. I really enjoyed the weekend in Peisey, and had a great feeling, which is rare in winter.”
Another summer with the Vosges Elite Ski Team… but without Amandine Mengin
“There weren’t the best, but I thought I was the best of those who weren’t at international level, she continues. Mentally, it was good for me because it was a bit of a complicated winter, but I took what I could get!”
At the start of this spring, Maëla Correia is back in training under Léo Ponceot as part of the Vosges Elite Ski Team… and for the first time without Amandine Mengin, who has joined the FFS group.
“Seeing her succeed, even though we’ve always trained together, shows that it’s possible, she concludes. If she can do it, why can’t I?”
- “She’ll remember this season for the rest of her life”: long-time friend and team-mate Maëla Correia talks about Amandine Mengin, who is about to discover the World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen.
- Peisey-Nancroix: Noémie Remonnay dominates the pursuit, Maëla Correia golden in the U22s
- Prémanon: Maëla Correia, Amandine Mengin and Paula Botet win a historic women’s relay title for the Vosges
