Biathlon : French coach Cyril Burdet delighted with Paula Botet’s victory on her return to the World Cup
This incredible breeding ground for theFrench women’s biathlon team continues to surprise us. Paula Botet, who has dominated the IBU Cup circuit since the start of the winter, has capitalised on her fine performances to earn the right to taste the top tier once again.
Hampered by shin pain last winter, the Frenchwoman seemed to be on the right track to finally confirm her potential. And right from her first race, the Vosges native showed her talent in the biathlon world cup sprint in Oberhof (Germany) on Thursday.
A perfect shot with an excellent 10/10, the 24-year-old pocketed her first-ever career win in dantesque conditions. It was a performance on a par with the very best, and one that French coach Cyril Burdet was delighted with. “What’s happened today is completely incredible. It’s very moving to see her emerge and take her first podium, and what’s more a first victory, with a 30-second lead,” he told La Chaîne L’Équipe in the rain. With the difficulties she’s had over the last two seasons, it’s exceptional.
“We try to give our best and we have an incredible women’s team”.Cyril Burdet on La Chaîne L’Équipe
A performance at the very forefront of the international scene was also made possible by the Frenchwoman’s rise to prominence in recent weeks in the antechamber of the World Cup: “I’m delighted for her and it’s also an opportunity to pay tribute to the work done with Baptiste [Desthieux, editor’s note] and Julien [Robert, editor’s note] in the IBU Cup. Together, I think we make a good team. We try to give our best and we have an incredible women’s team,” added the Savoyard.
Although discreet in front of the microphones, the Bressaude expressed herself on the track in the best possible way, beating all the top riders in her discipline. Behind her shyness lies a real sense of team spirit. “Paula makes me laugh a lot. I think she has comic potential that she doesn’t realise and she doesn’t realise that she’s extremely funny. She has a very reserved personality but she’s also capable of creating a great atmosphere in a group,” he says. I also find her very touching and to see her on the top step of the podium today makes me very happy.
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