Biathlon: the French team taking part in the EYOF 2025 speak out
This Saturday, from Geneva (Switzerland), the French team committed to next week’s Bakuriani 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival flies to Georgia. After a long day of transport and a good night’s rest, Les Bleus will test the facilities where the medals will be awarded from Monday to Sunday.
Before their departure, Rosalie Odile, Juliette Oliva, Maëlle Achoui, Romane Ouvrier-Buffet, Emile Weiss, Nans Madelenat, Emile Perrillat-Bottonet and Esteban Moreira, the eight biathletes selected for this EYOWF 2025, spoke to Nordic Magazine.
Rosalie Odile: “It’s going to be a great experience!”
“The winter’s objective wasn’t just this selection, but it was a big part of it! As I hadn’t done the races I’d hoped for, especially in terms of shooting, I wasn’t expecting to get this place. It’s my first international experience and it’s a complete change from the French Cup, especially in terms of organisation. It’s going to be a great experience! In terms of objectives, it’s hard to say because we don’t know where we stand in relation to the others.”
Esteban Moreira: “The main aim is to gain experience”
“Even though I suspected I was going to be selected after my results, seeing my name officially on the list is extremely pleasing. It shows that I haven’t trained for nothing and that I’ve succeeded in achieving a set objective. It’s the culmination of all that which is rewarded. I think it’s great to be able to discover the international scene in this super-class Olympic context. Of course, there’s the desire to go out and win medals, but the main aim is to gain experience. That’s the most important thing. Being able to proudly wear the French team jumpsuit is great too!”
Maëlle Achoui: “It’s difficult to project yourself because you don’t know the level of the others”
“I had my suspicions that I could do it, but it wasn’t totally certain, so it’s great to have this place. It was one of my goals for the season. I’m really pleased to be able to take part in this event! This EYOWF is also a great opportunity to discover a new country and a new competition venue built for the occasion. It’s great to be in such good conditions! Bringing home a medal is a great goal, but it’s hard to project yourself because you don’t know the level of the others.”
Emile Perrillat-Bottonet: “It would be nice to bring home a medal, but…”
“Every time, during the briefing with the coaches, I set myself the objective of being able to go to EYOWF, so it was a real goal for my winter. During the selections, it was pretty stressful because it came down to nothing at all! My coach told me before the last race and, at the end, he said it should be OK. But I didn’t get carried away and then I saw on Instagram that it was OK! I was so happy to be able to tick that box in my objectives.”
“For me, this EYOWF is just a bonus. I want to make the most of it, make memories and enjoy myself without having any regrets. It would be nice to bring home a medal, but that’s not the main thing.”
Juliette Oliva: “I can’t wait to go shopping”
“I was really pleased to be selected, firstly because it was my goal for the season. So there’s a lot of excitement! I’m really looking forward to doing the races and discovering what international racing is all about. It’s a change of surroundings, we’re going to be in an Olympic village, we’re going to see new people, a new venue and new landscapes. It’s going to be really rewarding! I don’t really know what I’m worth compared with athletes from other nations, so I’m not too focused on a result. I just want to finish the races feeling proud of myself when I cross the line. I want to do a great biathlon!”
Emile Weiss: “It’s very encouraging and motivating, but we have to keep our feet on the ground”
“On the last weekend of selections, I knew that I was playing for a place at the EYOWF and my coach told me that it was going to come down to nothing at all according to his calculations. I found out about my selection on Instagram! I was excited, but it seemed a bit far away. Now it’s taking shape. It’s great to be able to go abroad and it feels good to fulfil that objective. After that, we’re still young and we mustn’t forget that just because we’re going on EYOWF doesn’t mean that things will go well later on. It’s very encouraging and motivating, but we have to keep our feet on the ground!”
“As it’s outside the French Cup, we don’t know where we stand. After that, we know that the French level is good! We know that in an event like this, what counts are the medals and we haven’t been selected to finish fifteenth [laughs]. Everyone’s aim is to win a medal, but there’s also the objective of discovering as much as possible and enjoying it.”
Romane Ouvrier-Buffet: “A mixture of stress and excitement”
“The EYOWF was one of my main objectives for the season. I was really pleased to be selected for it. I’m really looking forward to it, it’s really cool, but there’s still a mixture of stress and excitement. I want to see what it’s like competing against athletes from other countries. I think it’s going to be great! In sporting terms, I have no idea how I’ll perform, so it’s hard to make any predictions.”
Nans Madelenat: “The aim is always to be as far ahead as possible”
“It was the main objective of the season and this selection for the EYOWF is the culmination of that. It’s our first international experience and it’s at an Olympic event. Everything’s bigger on so many levels, so it’s great! We’re also going to a new country where we wouldn’t have been without this event. When we do a race, the aim is always to be as far ahead as possible, but we’ll also have to try and make the most of it.”
The biathlon programme for the Bakuriani European Youth Olympic Festival 🇬🇪
Monday 10 February
- 7.00 am: Men’s 12.5 km individual
- 10.00: women’s 10 km individual
Wednesday 12 February
- 7.15am: Mixed singles relay
Friday 14 February
- 7.00: men’s 7.5 km sprint
- 10.00: women’s 6 km sprint
Sunday 16 February
- 10.15am: Mixed relay
The French biathlon selection for the Bakuriani European Youth Olympic Festival 🇬🇪
Ladies
- Juliette Oliva – Ski Club Sallanches Tête Noire (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Romane Ouvrier-Buffet – Club des Sports de La Clusaz (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Maëlle Achoui – SC Villard-sur-Boëge (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Rosalie Odile – Ski Club Arêches Beaufort (Savoie) 🇫🇷
Men
- Nans Madelenat – CS Nordique Villard-de-Lans (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Esteban Moreira – Club des Sports de Chamonix (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Emile Perrillat-Bottonet – Club des Sports de La Clusaz (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Emile Weiss – Club des Sports de Méribel (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Bakuriani: Anouchka Neuville carries the flag for the French delegation at the EYOWF 2025 opening ceremony
- Cross-country skiing | Bakuriani: French selection for the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival
- Biathlon | Bakuriani: French selection for the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival
