Biathlon: Emilien Jacquelin satisfied after his second place in the individual short race in Nove Mesto
Late on Thursday in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic), Villardien Emilien Jacquelin claimed his first World Cup podium in the individual short format. With an incredible 20/20 in his shooting, he came second, beaten only by his compatriot Eric Perrot.
After stepping off the podium, he spoke at length during a videoconference attended by Nordic Magazine.
A first 20/20 on the world circuit since February 2021 and the pursuit at the World Championships in Pokljuka (Slovenia).
“At that time, I was shooting my own shot, without thinking about the twenty, and that’s how I succeeded in chases. It was my own kind of committed shooting. Today [Thursday], I had the same calmness and the same approach, even if, from the outside, it wasn’t the same committed shot. I think I was more focused on myself than in recent times, and on doing simple things. And that means a lot.”
“We often hear former champions say that, when you’re young, you don’t necessarily know why you perform. When you do it later, when you’re older, you realise what’s involved and what it requires in terms of technique and composure. It has a different flavour to when you’re young and it just falls into your lap.
A strategy that is bearing fruit in the run-up to the Olympic Games
“The choices I’ve made since Christmas are focused on February. January started very badly, but I expected that. I’ve read that it was a failed gamble, but it’ll be a failed gamble if the Games are catastrophic. I was able to be patient after the catastrophic sprint in Oberhof and the missed relay in the shooting, caused by a technical problem with my rifle.
“That was another hard blow, but I kept going. Then I fell ill in Ruhpolding: that was a third hard blow. I never gave up despite these difficulties. I know why I made the choices I did and I accept the consequences. Performing in Ruhpolding was more of a surprise than anything else because the mornings and evenings of the race were complicated. I don’t feel sick any more, but I still have after-effects, and my body needs to recover.
“However, the momentum is there, and that’s what I wanted: to break this negative momentum that I’ve had in January for the past few years. I’d perform well in the Oberhof sprint and then never be seen again. This time, January is the opposite of what’s been happening recently. That was the objective if we were to approach the Olympic Games in a positive light. You have to believe in yourself and be patient despite the pitfalls. A plan never goes perfectly, and I’m happy to keep my head up and keep moving forward.
A first-ever podium finish in the individual format
“It’s true that it wasn’t my favourite exercise when I was younger, but I still enjoyed this race, just as I’ve learnt to enjoy sprints. Getting my first podium in an individual race, like Lukas Hofer, is a source of pride for me personally. It allows me to say to myself that I’ve managed to get on the podium in every format during my career. It’s an important personal satisfaction for any sportsman or woman.
He proved to the staff that he could have a place in the individual Olympics.
“I also wanted to show the staff that they could count on me for the individual at the Olympic Games. In the sprint and pursuit, I’ve already proved myself this winter, but in the individual, there are young people who are very keen to get a ticket to run a race. I want to race in the individual at the Games too, and the best way to show that is to have good races. This performance comes at just the right time.
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