Biathlon: no privileges for Camille Bened, winner of the IBU Cup big globe
At the start of the 2025/2026 winter season, for the first two stages of the World Cup in Östersund (Sweden) and Hochfilzen (Austria), the French women’s biathlon team will have seven places available in the individual events.
A quota one higher than that usually allocated to Les Bleues. This is because Camille Bened, from Chablais, won the overall ranking in the IBU Cup last season, giving the French squad an extra ticket. However, the staff have decided not to give Bened an automatic place, as was the case a year ago for Océane Michelon.

“The five girls in Group A [Lou Jeanmonnot, Julia Simon, Océane Michelon, Jeanne Richard and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, editor’s note] are protected and the others will have every chance of playing for a place in the World Cup, Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French teams, told Nordic Magazine. That’s why they’re in Group B together and why they’ll be in the same situation at the start of the season.”
The selection procedures have yet to be determined
To justify the decision not to award the extra place to Camille Bened, the French biathlon boss explained: “Unlike last year, when Océane [Michelon] won the IBU Cup overall without having raced the whole circuit, Camille [Bened] had a great season, of course, but she also owes her victory to the fact that some of the other girls didn’t race the whole circuit.”

The details of the selection process for the last two biathletes for the start of the World Cup have not yet been determined. “We’re going to have specific meetings to determine the selection document, but it won’t be official until the end of June,” confides Stéphane Bouthiaux.
One thing is certain: Paula Botet, Sophie Chauveau, Camille Bened, Anaëlle Bondoux, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Célia Henaff, Gilonne Guigonnat and Amandine Mengin will be on the starting line.
The official composition of the French biathlon teams for the 2025/2026 season
France A Team
- Justine Braisaz-Bouchet – DOUANE / Club des Sports des Saisies (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Lou Jeanmonnot – ARMY OF CHAMPIONS / Olympic Mont d’Or (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
- Océane Michelon – Bauges Ski Nordique (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Jeanne Richard – POLICE NATIONALE / Les Gets Ski Competition (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Julia Simon – DOUANE / Club des Sports des Saisies (Savoie) 🇫🇷
France B Team
- Paula Botet – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Sophie Chauveau – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Ski Club Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Camille Bened – Ski Club Chablais Nordic (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Anaëlle Bondoux – GUC Grenoble Ski (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Voldiya Galmace-Paulin – Ski Club Villard sur Boëge (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Célia Henaff – Ski Club Arèches Beaufort (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Gilonne Guigonnat – Ski Club Villard sur Boëge (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Amandine Mengin – La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
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