Biathlon | Lisa Siberchicot looks back on a difficult year for her debut in a federal group: “I wanted to show that I was up to what they expected of me”

Biathlon: Lisa Siberchicot, results to forget this season

A year ago, when the French teams for the 2024/2025 season were unveiled, Prémanonière Lisa Siberchicot sprang a surprise by securing a place in the women’s B biathlon squad. She had never previously competed in the IBU Cup, and after the best winter of her career, she convinced the staff to put their faith in her .

But in recent months, the Jurassienne has failed to confirm her form. Without a single place on the B circuit, Lisa Siberchicot, who only competed internationally at the World University Games, had a difficult season, which came to a halt at the beginning of March. For Nordic Magazine, the 22-year-old Franc-Comtoise agreed to talk at length about this complicated period, during which she had to face up to her doubts and frustrations. Interview.

• A year ago, you joined the French B team for the summer preparations, a first for you. How did you adapt to this new situation?

It went really well! I fitted in well with the group straight away. After that, everything was new for me: a new group, new team-mates, a new environment, new coaches… It was normal to have a little time to adapt, but then the preparation went well, with no injuries or particular problems. We introduced a lot of new things during the preparation and I made progress.

• Camille Bened recently told us in our columns that the two of you had really hit it off…

I got on best with her in the group! She’s become a close friend, even though we didn’t necessarily know each other before. I’m happy to have met her and to have shared so many moments of the course with her. She was a great point of reference, and I can see that it’s possible [to do what she did]!

• If we look back at your winter, you didn’t manage to get selected for the IBU Cup, only starting at the World University Games. What happened?

There were no injuries. In November, I was well prepared and feeling pretty good. I missed out on the IBU Cup by a very small margin at the Bessans selections, because I was the first substitute… It was a bit of a blow, because I’d been aiming for this selection since the start of the winter. But I got back into the swing of things because there were still plenty of races to go and it was only the start of the season. In December, there were places up for grabs, but I didn’t manage to grab them, as I did at the start of January in Prémanon.

• What did you need to achieve the results you were hoping for?

This season, I’ve often had weekends of mixed fortunes, with one very good race – on the podium or in the flowers – and another a long way off. That’s what was disappointing. I would have liked to be much more consistent and show what I was capable of producing in the summer, and my progress. All that didn’t show, and I even had the impression of doing less well…

• You are the only member of France’s Group B not to have progressed to the IBU Cup this season. How did that affect you mentally?

During the winter, it was hard to see that the whole group I’d trained with during the preparation period was evolving, while I was still in the French Cup. It was from that point on, in January, that I felt I wasn’t up to the pace. In terms of shooting and confidence, it was getting complicated. So I decided to go to the World University Games.

• Was this competition a breath of fresh air?

The aim, as agreed with Baptiste [Desthieux] and Julien [Robert], was to rediscover the pleasure of biathlon and regain my confidence. There was nothing at stake in these races, no selection behind them. I needed to free myself up to get back into biathlon before the end of the national season, when new IBU Cup places would be at stake. Unfortunately, it was more complicated than I thought over there, despite finishing sixth… I had higher expectations. Still, it was a nice experience, which allowed me to see another facet of biathlon, a lighter one, with no pressure. You could make mistakes.

• What happened to your winter after this university interlude?

I didn’t get selected for the IBU Cup… When I came back from the World University Games, things became increasingly complicated for me, in terms of motivation and mental energy. I realised that I’d used up a lot emotionally and mentally. I felt something coming on, but I didn’t pay any attention to it and carried on until the French Cup finals in Peisey-Nancroix.

• That’s where you’ll be contesting the final races of your season…

I did the sprint, but I really didn’t feel right from the start. I couldn’t concentrate, my head was all over the place… On the first lap, I wondered what I was doing there. I questioned everything, even though I finished the race. I was at the end of the line. Fortunately Claire [Breton] was there and then Baptiste [Desthieux] called me. I was supported straight away, which was nice. So I decided to call it a day. I no longer had the strength, energy or pleasure, even when training, to do biathlon or cross-country skiing.

• More than a month later, where do you stand?

It takes time… In fact, in one month, I’ve only done two hours of sport. It’s harder than I thought, but I’m already feeling better mentally. I know that I have to listen to myself more and not let others decide for me. I’m the one at the centre of my project. There are a lot of expectations and pressure when you’re at the FFS. Even if I appear relaxed, I feel it. It’s a good lesson, and there’s more to this season than meets the eye. It’s a winter that will give me as much as the one before, when I had the best results of my career.

• Is it the fact of having been selected in a federal group that’s the problem, particularly the pressure inherent in that?

I don’t think so. A lot is asked of us, but I didn’t feel any particular pressure. Above all, I wanted to do better than in previous seasons. I wanted to show that I could live up to what they expected of me, and to my own objectives. I put a lot of pressure on myself, when simply doing what I know how to do would have been enough.

• Does talking about it make you feel better?

I’ve been monitored by a mental trainer, who’s a psychologist, for two years now, when I started at the top level. I think it’s important to have this kind of follow-up, because biathlon is an extremely mental sport.

• Looking back over the past year, what do you remember most about it?

Above all, I’ve learnt more about myself this year than I have in other seasons. Even though I would have preferred to learn on the IBU Cup circuit and get my bearings there, I also learnt a lot from the French Cup and the World University Games. It’s not easy to put it into words, because it’s very emotional, but I’ve understood my priorities.

• However, this setback does not call into question your plans for the biathlon…

I took a break before the end of the season and I still don’t know when I’ll start biathlon again. It will depend on how much I enjoy it. I’m not going to go back without listening to myself! I’ll do what it takes to perform well, because I don’t do biathlon to be average. A lot of things are going to change in my way of being and doing things.

• Can you tell us where you will be spending this new preparation period?

I know that I won’t be part of the federal group, and I understand that completely. So I’ve decided to return to the Dauphiné committee, in the senior group. I’ll be in the Vercors to prepare. It worked well before I joined the Fédé!

• “It’s really rewarding to be there”: selected for the French B team, Lisa Siberchicot from the Jura joins the federal team for the first time.
• World University Games in Turin: Ukraine’s Daryna Chalyk wins the mass start, Noémie Remonnay, Amélie Broutier and Lisa Siberchicot just off the podium