Biathlon: Quentin Fillon-Maillet takes stock
Over the last two weeks, Quentin Fillon-Maillet has had a very good World Biathlon Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). Gold in the mixed singles relay, silver in the men’s relay and bronze in the sprint and individual events, the Jura native has now won twenty world medals in his career.
During a videoconference with Nordic Magazine on Tuesday morning, the Grandvallier took stock of its World Championships. Interview.
- How would you sum up your World Championships?
If I’d been told I was going to finish with four medals, including two individuals and a title, I would have accepted the deal. Of course, there’s always the disappointment of not having won an individual medal. I’d have swapped one, two or three medals for a gold one, but that’s the difficulty of [world] championships. The ambitions are high, so it’s difficult to accept that we didn’t achieve our main objective, but we’re still talking about four medals in six races at the world championships. It’s a very positive result.
In the mass start, the last chance to go for something, I was caught by my old shooting demons. That’s a little frustrating, but I was very pleased with the consistency I showed throughout the World Championships, something I haven’t had on the World Cup circuit since the start of the season. I’m coming back from these World Championships with a fine collection of medals after all.
- Do you attach any importance to all these medals, now that you’ve won twenty at the World Championships?
Today, in my quest for performance, I talk a lot about individual success at the World Championships or the big globe, success in numbers, but my real objective in terms of method is to achieve real consistency in performance in skiing and shooting. That means being able to win almost every race, like Johannes [Thingnes] Boe. That’s what I dreamed of when I was a kid.
“There was a positive atmosphere”Quentin Fillon-Maillet
- From the outside, you got the impression that a sort of collective euphoria reigned within the French team during the Worlds…
I don’t know if you can call it euphoria. There was a lot of excitement after the finish line, but it was pretty calm once we got back to the hotel! The alcohol wasn’t flowing and most of the time we were in bed by 10pm. There were, however, some nice moments shared when all the staff returned to the accommodation. We’re all aware of how difficult it was to put in one performance after another, and how difficult it was to take advantage of that because there was a race the next day or the day after that. It wasn’t particularly euphoric, but there was a positive atmosphere.
- Can you talk about the check with Johannes Thingnes Boe on the last lap of the relay?
It was sincere on his part! It was a filmed exchange, but it’s the kind of exchange you can have regularly in the changing hut when you take the time to talk to each other. The nice thing was that it was during the competition. I saw him on the other side stop and I crossed [the track] to check him. It’s a nice image that completely reflects the great relationship we have with the Norwegian competition. It’s very tough on the track where we’re at war with each other, but there’s a really good relationship between us.
“The aim is to finish the season with a good result”Quentin Fillon-Maillet
- What happens at the end of the World Cup after a World Cup like this?
Easily! Given that I didn’t manage an individual victory at the World Championships, I’m telling myself that I’ll manage to get one over the last three weeks [smiles]. There’s also the overall objective, where I’d really like to move up thanks to more consistent shooting. The aim is to finish the season with a good result. The momentum is good, so I’ve got a good chance of achieving that.
- The end of the season will also be marked by the end of the Boe brothers’ careers: what will the rest of the season be like without them?
They really gave a great image of our sport. There was an intense rivalry with them and it’s also a great friendship. The fact that they won’t be here [next winter] will lower the general level of the World Cup. Personally, Johannes [Thingnes Boe] was, along with Martin [Fourcade], my greatest rival on the track and on the shooting range. They are extraordinary athletes who break all the rules. There’s talk of me winning 20 medals at the World Championships, but Johannes [Thingnes Boe] has 23 gold medals to his name. I compare myself more to his brother on the list of medals, who crushes the competition less, but who has a globe overall. Without them, the biathlon will be a bit different, but there are plenty of young athletes who will be there, like Eric [Perrot], Tommaso [Giacomel] and the Norwegian armada from the IBU Cup. The density will be there, but there won’t be a dominant athlete. That makes me sad.
“It’s clear that it’s going to be a great party because of the atmosphere”Quentin Fillon-Maillet
- Are you looking forward to their farewell?
I hope the Norwegians will come out in force to honour these great champions. It’s clear that it’s going to be a great party because of the atmosphere. It’s going to be special. I’m also looking forward to sharing these moments with them in the finish area. I don’t know what will be organised, but it’ll be a great moment because it’s a difficult choice to stop a career! I hope there will still be some great battles with them, with a final shot and a final round against the two of them. That would be magical!
- Quentin Fillon-Maillet has no regrets about his outburst against the staff before the mixed relay at the World Championships in Lenzerheide: “I still hold this position”.
- Lenzerheide: Johannes Thingnes Boe crushes the sprint to win a fourth world gold medal in the discipline, Quentin Fillon-Maillet gets a tan
- Lenzerheide: Peiserot Eric Perrot becomes individual world champion, bronze for Quentin Fillon-Maillet
- Lenzerheide: Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Julia Simon world champions in the mixed singles relay
- Lenzerheide: the Boe brothers’ Norway become world relay champions again, Emilien Claude, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot and Quentin Fillon-Maillet win silver medals
