Biathlon: Amandine Mengin talks to Nordic Magazine
When the 2024/2025 season kicked off in Bessans (Savoie) at the beginning of November with the first selection races of the winter, there was nothing to suggest that Bressaude Amandine Mengin was in for a dream year. In fact, she failed to shine in Haute Maurienne. It wasn’t until December that the Vosges native put in a string of fine performances, first in the French Cup and then in the Junior Cup.
The transition to 2025 was then synonymous with an explosion for Amandine Mengin, who won the IBU Cup on her first start on the circuit. A European medallist at senior level and then at junior world level, she even finished the winter at the World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway). Nordic Magazine talks to her about her incredible season. Interview.
- A year ago, when looking back on your 2023/2024 winter, you explained in our columns that you had had mixed results due to average results caused by far too much stress. Despite all that, you added: “I know I’ve got what it takes, so I’m not giving up hope. Your hope was not in vain…
This year, I didn’t do the most work physically, but mentally. That’s where everything changed! I took every start, every time, enjoying myself. I hadn’t done that for a very long time, I didn’t know how. That’s mainly what changed and what got me here.
- At the time, you also mentioned working with mental coach Quentin Fouchet. Was it these discussions that gave you the keys you needed?
We saw each other throughout the summer and early autumn. At the beginning of November, at the time of the first IBU Cup selections in Bessans, I told him that I wanted to try doing those races on my own to see what it was like and how I felt. The aim was not to get in over my head and to get by with his tips. That’s not where I got my best results, but it felt good. So I carried on! Of course, we phoned each other during the season when I needed it, but it wasn’t after each competition like before.
“I always managed to ride the wave of fatigue. That’s the big positive!”Amandine Mengin at Nordic Magazine
- Specifically, can you tell us why you’ve managed to enjoy yourself more this season than in previous ones?
My coach [Léo Ponceot] said something that stuck with me: “Don’t think about the result until you’ve crossed the finish line”. Last year, I was thinking about the result the day before and I was projecting myself a lot. This time, I rode the race wanting to give my 100% on the day to see what it would be like at the finish, and not before. When you think about it beforehand, it’s too scary!
- If we go back to your excellent results this season, you’ve contested 24 international races – the World Cup aside – with an eighteenth-place finish as your worst result. What do you think when you look back on it all?
Twenty-four races is a lot! I find it astonishing, I’ve never done so many. At the end of the season, we were saying how surprised we were that I hadn’t had a dip in fitness after all that racing. I always managed to ride the wave of fatigue. That’s the big positive! I’m amazed that my body managed to survive the twenty-four races. I’m so proud of how consistent I’ve been this season. It’s really amazing for a first winter with so many international races.
“This frustration is so high that I can’t be disappointed”.Amandine Mengin at Nordic Magazine
- Throughout the winter, you said you didn’t understand the reason for your success. Is that still the case?
Really, I still don’t understand! Yes, I realise it because I can see the results I’ve achieved, the people congratulating me and following me throughout the winter… I understand that what I did was really good, but I still don’t have any explanation for how I managed to do it at the time. After taking the IBU Cup selection for Arber, I never stopped! It’s great, but I don’t know how it’s possible [laughs].
- Finally, you were rewarded for your fine season by going to the World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway). Just for a few seconds, you didn’t manage to secure your place in the pursuit. Was that too much for you?
No, it was an experience to be had! That’s why I went to the World Cup. Yes, my aim was to do the pursuit, that was my goal. I didn’t manage it and that’s my frustration of the season! Being frustrated after a World Cup race, I never thought I’d be saying that in May 2024 [laughs]. This frustration is so high that I can’t be disappointed.
“You can’t call it mourning, but I have to understand that it’s over and that I have to move on”.Amandine Mengin at Nordic Magazine
- This stint in the World Cup has also enabled you to discover the three international circuits in four months: the Junior Cup, the IBU Cup and then the World Cup. That’s quite a feat too…
It makes you climb the ladder quite quickly! Once again, I wasn’t expecting it, I didn’t see it coming… In December, I was happy to have achieved my main objective, which was to climb up to the Junior Cup. For me, from then on, my season was a success. Then I went on to the IBU Cup, the World Junior Championships and the World Cup. 10/10, that’s all there is to it [laughs]!
- Has it been difficult, over the last month, to come back down to earth after this exceptional winter?
I don’t want it to end and I’m still in this thing. I haven’t yet realised that the season has already come to an end! You can’t call it mourning, but I have to understand that it’s over and that I have to move on. I haven’t accepted that yet. I’m so looking forward to the next season and trying to do the same thing again, giving it my all…
“I’m trying not to think too far ahead because I’m already looking forward to November!Amandine Mengin at Nordic Magazine
- After this crazy season, are you a bit worried about what’s to come?
It’s impossible to do that well. It’s the only time in my career that I’ll be doing all three circuits in one year! I wouldn’t say I’m scared, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m afraid, though, that this desire to get back into it [competition] will eat me up all summer. I’m trying not to think too far ahead because I’m already looking forward to November!
- Vosgienne Amandine Mengin, France’s new U22 summer champion, talks about the progress she has made to get this far: “I’m gaining a lot of confidence in myself”.
- Bessans: Vosgienne Amandine Mengin wins the individual short event in the French Cup
- Ridnaun-Val Ridanna Junior Cup: Violette Bony wins the sprint, Amandine Mengin third
- Goms: Amandine Mengin and Léo Carlier win the Junior Cup mixed singles relay
- Goms: Anaëlle Bondoux takes Amandine Mengin by the scruff of the neck in the Junior Cup Mass-Start 60
- French Cup at Prémanon: Amandine Mengin wins the women’s Mass-Start 60
- Amandine Mengin, Louise Roguet, Rémi Broutier, Edgar Geny and Jacques Jefferies complete the French squad for the IBU Cup in Arber
- “I’ve made a lot of progress and I’m proud of myself”: this week, Amandine Mengin from Bresse will be taking part in her first IBU Cup in Arber.
- Arber: Amandine Mengin triumphs in the sprint for her IBU Cup debut
- “I’m completely shocked”: Amandine Mengin, unexpected winner of the IBU Cup sprint in Arber, tells Nordic Magazine
- IBU Cup d’Arber: Gilonne Guigonnat wins the second sprint ahead of Amandine Mengin
- IBU Cup in Arber: Amandine Mengin wins the pursuit in a demonstration at 20/20
- “I feel like I’m on cloud nine, but I’m not untouchable”: how Bresse native Amandine Mengin is enjoying her idyllic debut in the IBU Cup, marked by three podium finishes including two wins
- Martell-Val Martello: Germany’s Johanna Puff individual European champion, Amandine Mengin fourth
- Martell-Val Martello: Bresse’s Amandine Mengin finishes runner-up in the European sprint behind Sweden’s Anna-Karin Heijdenberg
- Amandine Mengin tells Nordic Magazine after her European silver medal in the sprint: “I still have the same problem, I don’t realise it!
- “A radical change”: the Vosges Elite Ski Team, the structure that enabled Amandine Mengin to make lightning progress this summer.
- Martell-Val Martello: Camille Bened, Sophie Chauveau, Amandine Mengin and Gilonne Guigonnat runners-up in the European relay behind Germany
- Östersund: Célia Henaff becomes world junior individual champion, silver for Amandine Mengin
- Junior Cup: Bresse’s Amandine Mengin, second in Östersund, wins the individual globe
- “I’m really shocked”: Amandine Mengin, silver medallist in the individual event at the Junior Worlds and winner of the small globe, wasn’t expecting this…
- Östersund: despite four penalty laps and a fall, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny are runners-up in the junior mixed relay.
- “Even with four laps to go, we’re capable of going for a medal…”. These are the words of Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny, who won silver in the mixed relay at the World Junior Championships.
- Östersund Junior World Championships: Amandine Mengin takes bronze in the sprint, the title goes to Austria’s Anna Andexer
- Top athlete at the Junior World Championships in Östersund, Amandine Mengin wins a quota for the World Cup finals in Oslo-Holmenkollen
- Östersund: hot favourites Célia Henaff, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Anaëlle Bondoux and Amandine Mengin are crowned world junior relay champions
- “Moments we’ll remember forever”: Célia Henaff, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Anaëlle Bondoux and Amandine Mengin, world junior relay champions in Östersund
- “She’s going back to France to recover from the World Cup and prepare for this event”: Amandine Mengin is set to discover the World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen
- Amandine Mengin’s reaction to her selection for the Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup: “If someone had said that to me at the start of the season, I would have said that the joke wasn’t funny…”.
- Amandine Mengin on the eve of her World Cup debut in Oslo-Holmenkollen: “I have no idea why my season has taken such a turn for the worse…”.
- “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.
- “I wanted to take that chase”… Amandine Mengin tells Nordic Magazine about her first World Cup start at the Oslo-Holmenkollen sprint.
