Biathlon | Emilien Claude on his first World Cup podium in Ruhpolding: “I don’t have the impression that my life is changing, but that hard work is paying off after four complicated years”

Biathlon: a podium finish at last for Emilien Claude

On Wednesday afternoon, amid the fury of the Chiemgau Arena in Ruhpolding (Germany), Emilien Claude from the Vosges climbed onto his first World Cup biathlon podium. Second in the individual race, dominated by Vebjoern Soerum, he put in a remarkable performance, topped off by a 20/20 score in the shooting.

On his way down from the podium, he answered questions from journalists, including Nordic Magazine, during a video conference. Interview.

• You said you weren’t expecting such a performance at all. How did you feel on the podium?

To be honest, everything went very quickly after the race. I think I’ll realise that as the day goes on. It’s a lot of emotion and pride, but also a relief. I don’t have the impression that my life is changing, but that hard work is paying off after four complicated years. It was more pride that I felt on the podium!

• At the start of 2025, you’re posting your best ever World Cup results. Is this just because of the problem with your rifle?

You don’t have to look far. My skiing times are like December! My rifle is like night and day, I can feel it sweating out my shots and it’s nothing like that. I’ve been looking for these sensations for months. When Jean-Pierre [Amat] changed my screw and found the problem, I almost cried because it’s a relief. When I shoot in the middle, the blade tilts. You don’t need to have done advanced maths to understand that it’s a real advantage when you’re doing biathlon.

• Does it drive you mad to think that such a small thing can have such an impact on results?

When you don’t know, it drives you crazy and casts doubt. At Christmas, I did a lot of work on my position and my rifle and you start to question everything because nothing works. After a while, I felt there was a problem. When I told Jean-Pierre [Amat] about my problem and he saw it, it was one of the best feelings I had in January.

• During the last four years, when it was difficult for you, were there times when you doubted your ability to reach the podium?

Clearly. These have been years of doubt. Last winter, when I put my finger on what wasn’t working, my intestinal problem that had been bothering me for several years, I felt that I still had some great biathlon races left in my career. After that, it’s true that if I hadn’t had the support of my sponsors and friends, I might already have stopped my career. I feel lucky to have had this opportunity to never give up and to be able, a few months later, to finally stand on the podium.

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