Biathlon: Emilien Claude’s fine season
The winter of 2024/2025 wasEmilien Claude ‘s breakthrough season on the World Cup circuit. Expected to reach this level for several seasons, the Vosges native, three-time world junior champion in 2021, had until then struggled to confirm his status because of health problems (back, stomach).
This time, therefore, nothing could stop the man from Bassur from shining at the highest world level, not even a screw nestling in the barrel of his rifle, which was repaired in the early days of 2025. After that, Emilien Claude finished second in the individual event in Ruhpolding (Germany), his first World Cup podium.
He then went on to win the Bavarian relay and was included in the silver medal-winning relay at the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) after Emilien Jacquelin failed to finish. He also won the relay in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic), so he has had a full season on the most prestigious of circuits.
“It’s really good to see him arriving at the start of the season in a better position to play”.
It’s very satisfying to see him at this level,” Simon Fourcade, France’s coach, told Nordic Magazine. He didn’t train with me this summer, so I imagine his preparation coaches, Louis Deschamps and Bastien Moretti, must be even more pleased.
Emilien [Claude] was someone you could see performing well and coming out of nowhere from time to time with huge ski times,” continues the French technician. He often managed to do that in wheel-skiing and sometimes at the start of the season, but he had difficulty confirming it. That’s why he kept yo-yoing. It’s really pleasing to see him arrive at the start of the season in a better position to play. I think it’s given him the confidence to go out and win his first podium.
Emilien Claude’s top-class performances also mean that France can count on an extra man up front. “It’s great to see him here, especially as we don’t have a very large pool of players compared to Norway, for example. Knowing that we can rely on a fifth boy of his quality is great,” concluded Simon Fourcade.
- Simon Fourcade talks to Nordic Magazine about Les Bleus’ winter: “I never thought we’d have a season like this”.
- Julia Simon’s 2024/2025 season as seen by Cyril Burdet: “Her ability to bounce back and cope with difficulty is incredible”.
- Eric Perrot’s 2024/2025 season as seen by Simon Fourcade: “He’s really a very mature person, and he’s continuing to chart his course”.
- Cyril Burdet on Océane Michelon’s 2024/2025 season: “She’s undoubtedly the revelation of the winter”.
- Simon Fourcade’s view of Emilien Jacquelin’s 2024/2025 season: “This is the third year in a row that he has struggled to achieve at the World Championships”.
- Cyril Burdet on Justine Braisaz-Bouchet’s 2024/2025 season: “What I remember is her ability to be there on D-Day for a major championship”.
- Fabien Claude’s 2024/2025 season as seen by Simon Fourcade: “We managed to raise his level in the sprints”.
- Jeanne Richard’s 2024/2025 season as seen by Cyril Burdet: “She built her winter on exceptional shooting stats”.
