Biathlon: newcomers to the French women’s team, Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon have won over the squad
This summer, the French women’s biathlon team welcomed two newcomers: Jeanne Richard, who won the World Cup relay last season, and Océane Michelon, overall winner of the IBU Cup.
Replacing Chloé Chevalier and Caroline Colombo, they joined Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Gilonne Guigonnat and Sophie Chauveau.
Both aged 22, they are about to complete their first preparation period in Group A, coached by Cyril Burdet, Jean-Paul Giachino and Patrick Favre. “They’re a real asset to the team because they bring a lot of freshness and density,” the Savoie-based fitness coach tells Nordic Magazine.
It’s a statement that echoes the one he made in our columns back in May, when he reviewed Jeanne Richard‘s season: “She gave a huge boost to the whole team, with top-level performances from her very first races. In terms of our state of mind, she’s been a huge plus, a ball of energy”, he explained.
They have brought emulation to the best team in the world
As for their contribution to an already high-performance group that includes an Olympic and world champion, a former winner of the crystal globe and world gold medallist, and the outgoing world number two, it has been more than beneficial.
“They’ve got a lot going for them, says Beaufort native Justine Braisaz-Bouchet. It’s very motivating because these are people who, with the experience they’re going to gain, are going to move to the front of the stage very quickly. It creates a sense of emulation and it’s a real driving force for the group, especially for the old hands like me. Clearly, there’s a huge pool of talent and density in our group. That’s very important.”
Océane Michelon and Jeanne Richard in good form at Summer Tour races
While they might have been intimidated by the novelty of the event and reserved about rubbing shoulders with the French stars of their sport throughout their summer preparation, Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon, according to Cyril Burdet, had “no hang-ups”.
“They push them to their limits in all areas of biathlon, he continues. They prove it not only in training, but also in competition; they’re in the mach almost every day. It’s a real pleasure to have them in the group.”
At the Summer Tour in Prémanon (Jura) in September, Baujue’s Océane Michelon completed the short sprint/chase double, taking the national title in the first discipline – her first at senior level. Jeanne Richard finished third three times in four races.
- Stéphane Bouthiaux reflects on Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon’s World Cup debut: “We weren’t expecting so much”.
- “It was obvious”: the reasons why Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon were promoted to the French senior team
- The French women’s team in training at Prémanon: photo album of Julia Simon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Lou Jeanmonnot, Jeanne Richard, Gilonne Guigonnat, Sophie Chauveau and Océane Michelon in training
- In the minds of the Les Bleues coaching staff, the seventh quota for the first two stages of the 2024/2025 World Cup has gone to Océane Michelon.
- Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival: victory for biathlete Océane Michelon in the women’s mass start ski-wheel race
- “I was able to play and that makes me really happy”: Océane Michelon talks about her surprise victory in the Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival cross-country skiing race.
- Prémanon: Océane Michelon triumphs in the Summer Tour short sprint
- Prémanon: Océane Michelon delighted to win “a hell of a fight
- Prémanon: Océane Michelon wins the pursuit at the Summer Tour de Prémanon
- Why will Océane Michelon and Eric Perrot be wearing yellow bibs in the Summer Tour d’Arçon sprint?
- Jeanne Richard’s 2023/2024 season as seen by Cyril Burdet: “She arrived with no complexes and gave a huge boost to the whole team”.
- Jeanne Richard joins the National Police team
- Trail: Jeanne Richard dominates the 11 km Trail des Gets
