Biathlon: first podium of the winter for Océane Michelon
On a snowy Friday afternoon inÖstersund (Sweden), Océane Michelon put a smile back on her face by finishing third in the first sprint of the 2025/2026 World Cup.
It has to be said that, on Tuesday, she was disappointed with her individual, which finished at 16/20 and in twenty-fifth place. I tried to be as simple as possible and refocus on what’s essential for me,” she explained to Nordic Magazine as she descended from the podium about the three days separating the two events. In the end, I had to refocus on the right things: staying on top of my shooting and technique and being present on the ski, with the feeling in my feet and arms.”
In the first race, the Savoyard admits that she gave in to the pressure. I put the cart before the horse a bit at the start of the season,” she confirms. I was excited, maybe I got a bit stressed and that put me a bit off centre. […] I added that extra degree of simplicity and complacency. So I was more tense, especially on the skis, as Cyril [Burdet] was telling me.
“I did my 10/10 and I let myself ski: that’s my greatest victory today”.
In today’s sprint, Océane Michelon’s aim was to stay on top of her game and deliver a performance in line with the work she had put in over the summer.
“As Polo [Jean-Paul Giachino, shooting coach, editor’s note] says, a race is training and training is a race. That’s kind of the point, and you mustn’t take the quiche (sic) any more than you have to,” she says simply. It’s a case of nothing more, nothing less, which he explains to us all the time, keeping things simple and getting to the point. I wanted to have fun and, in the end, that’s what works best.
It has to be said that the reigning mass-start runner-up managed to score her first 10/10 in a World Cup. I went all the way”, she enthuses. I’m just satisfied that I went from the first to the last [ball], concentrating, but without necessarily getting carried away, just letting the balls come out like in training. I’m really pleased to have achieved this 10/10. That’s it, I’m capable of doing full runs!
That’s how Océane Michelon put on her best smile after tipping the tenth pallet, also glancing at Jean-Paul Giachino, who was ecstatic behind his twin. ” I did my 10/10 and I was able to ski freely: that’s my biggest victory today [Friday],” she concluded.
- The full programme for the Östersund World Cup, the first stage of the 2025/2026 season
- Caroline Colombo: my best memory of… Österusnd
- “When it performs, it creates momentum”: the relays on the opening weekend of the World Cup in Östersund, important events to get the French team on the right track
- Östersund: Jeanne Richard, Océane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot dominate the women’s relay, the first race of the winter season
- “It’s a great team effort”: on their first outing of the winter in Östersund, Les Bleues have already won the World Cup
- Östersund: France’s Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin and Eric Perrot second in the relay won by Norway
- “A good relay in tempo”: behind the Norwegians in the Östersund relay, the French get their winter off to a good start
- “There’s this desire to go for the greatest medal of all”: beaten by Norway in the first relay of the season, Les Bleus have their sights set on Olympic gold
- Östersund: Sweden win the mixed singles relay ahead of Norway, Fabien Claude and Camille Bened third for France
- “It’s important in a career”: Camille Bened takes her first World Cup relay podium finish in the mixed singles relay in Östersund
- “It’s wonderful to see her so happy and fulfilled”: former biathlete Chloé Bened reacts emotionally to her older sister Camille Bened’s first World Cup podium finish.
- Östersund: Emilien Jacquelin, Eric Perrot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot win the mixed relay for France
- Östersund World Cup: Corinne Niogret’s debrief (relays)
- Östersund: Dorothea Wierer triumphs in the individual event ahead of Sonja Leinamo and Camille Bened, who takes her first solo podium finish
- “It’s the fruit of a lot of hard work”: an emotional Camille Bened talks about her third place in the Östersund individual event
- Camille Bened as told by her first coach Martin Bouchet after her podium finish in Östersund: “She was already a great fighter who never gave up”.
- Östersund: Johan-Olav Botn takes his first World Cup win by winning the individual, Eric Perrot best Frenchman
- “I’m in seventh heaven”: Johan-Olav Botn, who was ill at the start of the week, ran the perfect race in Östersund.
- “We’re where we should be”: a tricky first individual race for the French team, far from the podium in Östersund
- Östersund: Océane Michelon third in the sprint, victory for Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen ahead of Anna Magnusson
- Östersund: winner of the sprint, Suvi Minkkinen takes the yellow bib as World Cup leader
- Suvi Minkkinen, winner of her first World Cup victory in the Östersund sprint: “It’s incredible”.
- “It’s a great day for me”: 993 days later, Anna Magnusson is back on a World Cup podium in Östersund.
