Biathlon: a fine season for Belgium’s Maya Cloetens
This winter, 23-year-old Belgian biathlete Maya Cloetens put in the best World Cup performances of her young career. With several consecutive races in the top 25 and a superb eighth-place finish in the sprint at the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), she has made great strides forward.
Maya Cloetens spoke at length to Nordic Magazine before setting off on her next preparations following a well-deserved period of rest. Interview.
- How would you sum up your winter?
I’m really pleased with this season. It’s the best of my career! Even though there was a lot of fatigue in the last few races and I was almost relieved to finish, I’m really proud to have achieved these results. It opens up new horizons for me and makes me even more excited about what’s to come!
- What are the prospects?
Up until now, I’d had the impression that a top 10 finish was almost unattainable, and a podium finish even more so. I told myself that I’d never have the level to make a World Cup podium. For me, you had to have an exceptional VO2 max to get up there! I’m still a long way off, I haven’t done it yet, but I’ve realised little by little, step by step as I’ve improved my skiing and with the right shot, that it’s possible! I’m getting closer, knowing that I’m still young. I see other older athletes who are still progressing.
“Being confident also helps me enormously”Maya Cloetens at Nordic Magazine
- Were there any particular things that were unblocked over the winter?
I can’t believe it, my shooting has improved and, above all, it’s faster. My speed and my statistics have increased, so that obviously helps in biathlon! Being confident also helps enormously. I’m with a team and coaches who have really given me confidence, so I’ve been able to get through the great races and the more difficult parts as well.
- You scored four top 15 finishes, including an eighth place in the sprint at the Worlds. Did you dream of achieving these results or did you feel capable of doing so?
I dreamt of it, but to be clear, my aim was to do a mass-start, to be regular in the top 30 and maybe do a top 20. I think I’ve exceeded that [laughs]! So, little by little, I’ve revised my objectives upwards. These are results that I didn’t expect to achieve straight away, but having achieved them already this year shows that I can go for even better things in two or three years’ time. That’s great!
“I’ve learnt a lot from seeing that not everything is rosy and that you have to fight for every race”Maya Cloetens at Nordic Magazine
- Before the Olympic year, it also gives you confidence…
Of course! The fact that we were able to take part in a major event, finishing eighth in the sprint at the World Championships, is important. There are sixty girls in 2 minutes! It’s huge and it’s up to whoever manages to put in the best performance on the day. I’m happy to have done it and we’ll have to do the same thing again next year. That’s going to be the challenge!
- What happened at the end of the season, which was more difficult for you?
There was some fatigue and some respiratory problems that I’m looking into. I think it’s also the result of everything coming together! That’s when I really realised the importance of recovery between races and the prowess of those who win an overall classification. It’s absolutely incredible to be good all the time without falling ill and to manage to perform even when you’re not at 100%. At 22 or 23, I don’t have the ability to do that yet, but I’ve learnt a lot from seeing that not everything is rosy and that you have to fight for every race.
“It shows that I’ve been consistent all season, so it’s pleasing”Maya Cloetens at Nordic Magazine
- You’re also sixth in the U23 rankings. Is that something you were looking at over the winter?
At first, not necessarily! Afterwards, when your name appears in it, you think it’s cool. We’re a crazy generation and I’m really impressed by the performances of the French girls my age [Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon, editor’s note] who are in the top 6 overall. It shows that I’ve been consistent all season, so that’s really pleasing.
- You became a Belgian citizen 3 years ago. We can only imagine how proud you are of how far you’ve come…
I’m proud of myself and of having progressed in this way! A lot of people around me have given me this feedback. Maybe not many people believed in me, but in the end, when you believe in it, it works! I’m pleased that the hard work is paying off year after year. And it’s not over yet, maybe it’s just the beginning.
“Little by little, things have come together, but 3 years ago, I could never have imagined it all happening so quickly”Maya Cloetens at Nordic Magazine
- In fact, when you changed nationality, it was by no means a foregone conclusion that you would reach this level. What made it work?
At that point, to be honest, I was completely lost and I had no idea if I could still progress in my sport. I was at a completely different level and I went back to the drawing board. I changed things in my preparation and in the people around me. I joined a new federation, but I had no certainties! Little by little, things took shape, but 3 years ago, I’d never have imagined all this so quickly. I’m very happy with my decision and with how far I’ve come.
- “When I see the table at the finish, I have the impression that there’s a bug…”. 19th in the sprint and 12th in the pursuit at Hochfilzen, Belgian Maya Cloetens enters the big league
- “I’m not sure that humans are cut out for this”: despite finishing 24th in the sprint, Maya Cloetens had a “very bad time” at her first Grand-Bornand race.
- “I gave it my all, it was incredible”: another fine performance from Maya Cloetens, twentieth in the pursuit at Le Grand-Bornand
- Lenzerheide: eighth in the sprint, Maya Cloetens signs Belgium’s best result at the Worlds
- “I’m very proud”: Maya Cloetens tells Nordic Magazine how she made Belgian biathlon history by finishing eighth in the sprint at the Lenzerheide World Championships.
