Biathlon: Emilien Jacquelin in search of a calmer shot
For several years now, Dauphiné biathlete Emilien Jacquelin has been looking for himself on the shooting range. After winning his second world title in the pursuit in February 2021 in Pokljuka (Slovenia) at the cost of a demonstration of speed and precision on the mats, he explained that, paradoxically, something had broken.
Wanting to become more relaxed behind his rifle and become an athlete capable of aiming for an overall ranking, he lost his way in this quest. As a result, over the last three seasons, the Villardien shooter has stagnated (82% success rate in 2021/2022, 80% in 2022/2023 and 79% in 2023/2024).
This summer, working with his coach Jean-Pierre Amat, Emilien Jacquelin decided to improve his consistency against the targets.
“The aim is to be more consistent throughout the season,” he confirmed to La Chaîne L’Equipe on Saturday after finishing twelfth in the sprint at the Norwegian opening races in Sjusjøen (Norway) . It’s all about this kind of shot. We settled with a fairly strong wind pushing to the right and, when I settled in, there was no wind at all. I move the sights a bit, shoot and as soon as I miss a bullet I add a few clicks and it goes in. It happens, playing with the elements is part of our sport.”
“The aim this year is really to distil every ball”
The double Olympic medallist set the 66th fastest time (79th prone, 47th standing) and the 53rd fastest time across the shooting range. A far cry from his usual figures. “The aim this year is really to distil each ball instead of trying to build a shot from the whole, he repeats. I want to give 100% mentally on every ball. That’s what I tried to do today [Saturday].”
This Sunday, in the mass-start played in Innlandet County, Emilien Jacquelin will have to show that he is capable of remaining calm on the mats, even in direct confrontation.
- Norwegian opening races in Sjusjøen: Eric Perrot fourth in the sprint won by Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, Fabien Claude fifth
- Tenth in the Sjusjøen sprint, Johannes Thingnes Boe is still breaking in
- “A good first race”, “I’ll remember the 9/10 above all”: Eric Perrot and Fabien Claude, fourth and fifth in the Sjusjøen sprint, are satisfied.
- Sjusjøen: Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold strongest in the sprint of the Norwegian opening races, Anastasiya Kuzmina surprisingly fourth
- A solid winner of the Sjusjøen sprint, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold has put her mind at rest after a troubled summer.
- The full programme of Norwegian opening races at Sjusjøen in which the French will be taking part
- Norwegian opening races in Sjusjøen: who will French riders Julie Baverel, Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin be up against?
- “The signs are pretty much green for everyone”: Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin training on the snow at Sjusjøen
- “A real mouth-watering start to the season”: the day the French men’s team set off on their training camp in Sjusjøen
- Dorothea Wierer and the Italian men’s national team head for Sjusjøen
- Before Les Bleus arrive, Sjusjøen opens its first cross-country ski run
- Relief for Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold: the Norwegian should be ready for the races at Sjusjøen
