Biathlon: Camille Bened talks to Nordic Magazine
This winter, Chablais-based Camille Bened, 24, enjoyed the best season of her career. After two years made difficult by overtraining and then a nasty injury, the native of Châtel (Haute-Savoie) has been able to express her full potential.
Winner of the IBU Cup’s big globe and the author of a highly acclaimed World Cup debut in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway) in March, Camille Bened, who has just undergone surgery on her left shoulder, looks back for the last time this season for Nordic Magazine. Interview.
- How does it feel to be able to put in the performances you have throughout the season?
Above all, there’s the feeling that hard work is finally paying off. I talk a lot about the two years before that, which required an enormous amount of work and commitment. When things don’t necessarily go the way you want them to, it’s hard. It’s a real investment with sacrifices behind it, so it’s good when it works out. It motivates you to keep going, which is great!
- Was there a particular moment when you could see that things were moving in the right direction?
I don’t think anything in particular clicked. What really made the difference was that I learnt a lot from what I’ve experienced over the last few seasons. Being able to do a complete preparation, learning from my body and being more aware of what’s going on helped me enormously throughout the winter. It’s all helped me to grow and to be more consistent.
“It’s not an end in itself because it’s still the IBU Cup globe”.Camille Bened at Nordic Magazine
- During the winter, did you feel untouchable and on cloud nine?
Not at all! The start of the season went well, then the flu put me off a bit, then it was better at the end of the winter. There was never a moment when everything was taken for granted and everything was running smoothly. That meant I always had to be there and work 100%.
- Your season was crowned by the big IBU Cup crystal globe. What does it represent?
It shows me that I can be consistent over a full season and that means I’ve achieved one of my big goals for the winter. When you manage to tick a box, it’s a pleasure. The work has been done! After that, it makes you want to do even more. It’s not an end in itself because it’s still the IBU Cup globe. There’s still more to come!
“I’ve learnt a lot from my past failures, but this year I’ve learnt a lot too”.Camille Bened at Nordic Magazine
- You got your first taste of the World Cup at the finals in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway). What was that experience like for you?
People talk to me a lot about the pursuit and those two missed shots [in the last shot when she was aiming for the podium, editor’s note]. But I’m really happy because I was able to compete with the best! It’s a pleasure, especially as they weren’t putting too much faith in me. On the other hand, I’m thinking that maybe I’ve missed out on something big… So there’s frustration. It makes you want more and to be ready from the start of the season next year to try and make it to the opening round of the World Cup!
- What are you most proud of over the whole season?
It’s not even a result, it’s just the way I’ve developed over the winter. We worked hard with Baptiste [Desthieux] and Julien [Robert]. I’ve learnt a lot from my past failures, but this year I’ve also learnt a lot. All these experiences will help me in the coming winters. I’ve been able to experience a miniature version of the stress of competing in a general and chasing points, and I’ve also experienced the stress of a World Cup podium. These are all things that will help me to grow and perhaps make me even better next year!
- IBU Cup: Camille Bened wins the crystal globe in the pursuit, taking over from Océane Michelon
- IBU Cup: Chablais’ Camille Bened lifts the crystal globe in the mass start
- Camille Bened becomes the third Frenchwoman to win the IBU Cup crystal globe
- “It’s an immense source of pride”: Camille Bened reflects on her IBU Cup overall victory, synonymous with the crystal globe
- A fall at the hands of a Ukrainian woman, a trip through the mud, covered in bandages and a visit to an Estonian physiotherapist: the secret story of Camille Bened’s conquest of the IBU Cup globe.
- Firsts for Camille Bened and Amandine Mengin, the boys’ sevens: the French team selection for the Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup finals
- Chloé Bened’s pride after her older sister Camille Bened won the IBU Cup overall and was selected for the World Cup: “She’s our star, our champion, our idol”.
- “I want to show myself at my best”: how Camille Bened approached her first steps on the World Cup sprint circuit in Oslo-Holmenkollen
- “It’s a great feeling to be able to fight for a good place”: Camille Bened, thirteenth in her first World Cup outing at the Oslo-Holmenkollen sprint, is satisfied.
- “There is frustration, but the feeling of pride is stronger”: fifteenth in the pursuit at Oslo-Holmenkollen, Camille Bened was on the podium in the last standing shot.
- Camille Bened operated on her left shoulder
- “I had subluxations several times”: Camille Bened, the reasons behind her left shoulder operation
