Biathlon: the joy of Camille Bened
This Wednesday morning, Chablais biathlete Camille Bened, 24, won the individual event at the IBU Cup in Geilo (Norway). The 20/20 score gives her her third consecutive podium finish on the B circuit, and her first since January 2022.
A few minutes after the flower ceremony, Camille Bened from Haut-Savoie took the time to talk to Nordic Magazine. Interview.
- What were the conditions like for this individual event in Geilo (Norway)?
This [Wednesday] morning, it was very cold, -16°C! We shortened the warm-up a little to conserve our energy before the race. It wasn’t necessarily easy to manage the temperature, because it’s not necessarily that cold any more. Normally, it’s fine for winter, but we hadn’t experienced temperatures like that for a long time. Our bodies aren’t really used to it any more and we had to adapt, especially when it came to wearing gloves. During the race, there was no wind at the shooting range and the track was a bit slow with the cold snow. Personally, I had the impression that my body was frozen and frozen. When I was skiing, I had the impression that I wasn’t moving forward or that I was going slowly!
- What was the race like for you?
Despite everything, I felt good and I was calm. An individual event is always a relatively long race and you have to manage it very carefully. The watchword was really to do the job on the shooting range and to be ultra regular on the track. I managed to do that today [Wednesday] with a 20/20 where I applied myself to every ball. I really tried to take them one after the other. On the skis, I was focused on my technique and I wanted to try and be as consistent as possible. In the end, it was a great race!
“I’m telling myself that I’m capable of being regular in the IBU Cup and of having great races”Camille Bened at Nordic Magazine
- We can only imagine how happy you are after this victory, only your second in the IBU Cup…
I’m really pleased! It’s a race that’s been a success all the way through. I’ve been chasing a win since January 2022. After all the ups and downs I’ve been through [overtraining and then injury over the last two winters, editor’s note], to start the season with two podiums and a win feels really good. I’m telling myself that I’m capable of being regular in the IBU Cup and of having great races.
- Is there something special about seeing the work you’ve done over the years?
It’s enormously satisfying. It proves to me and allows me to tell myself that there have been hard times, but that you can’t give up. In life, when you give yourself the means to succeed, you can go as far as you want.
“It’s all very well taking the lead now, but we’re going to have to hang in there”Camille Bened at Nordic Magazine
- You won with 20/20, is that a rare performance for you?
It’s not my first, but it’s special for a biathlete. A 10/10 is something that happens a bit more regularly. The 20/20 comes up less often in the statistics, even though it’s always the same thing! There’s a kind of psychological barrier with that 20/20.
- With this success, you take the lead in the overall IBU Cup standings…
You’re teaching me! It’s a goal after the races I’ve been able to do in the first two weeks. I tell myself I can do it. It’s a long season now. It’s great to be in the lead now, but we’re going to have to hold on. We’ll talk again in two and a half months!
- IBU Cup in Geilo: Camille Bened dominates the individual, Fany Bertrand third, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin fifth
- Camille Bened, in fine form at the Bessans selection trials, tells Nordic Magazine: “I’m waiting to see if I can build on this over time to become very regular”.
- The full programme for the IBU Cup in Geilo, the second stage of the 2024/2025 B circuit
- Firsts for Martin Botet, Axel Garnier and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin: the full French team selection for the IBU Cups in Idre Fjäll and Geilo
- Geilo: Marit Oeygard and Mats Oeverby win IBU Cup
- Geilo replaces the Sjusjøen stage in the IBU Cup
