Biathlon | Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, second overall in the IBU Cup, is the guest of Nordic Magazine: “The World Cup is in the back of my mind, but that’s for later”

Biathlon: Voldiya Galmace-Paulin talks to Nordic Magazine

This winter, Montblanc biathlete Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, at just 19 years of age and in her first full season in the IBU Cup, has achieved a number of feats. With a string of top 10 finishes, several podiums and three victories on the circuit, the native of Haut-Savoie even played for the big globe.

In the end, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin finished second overall behind Camille Bened and won the small globe in the individual event, as well as becoming world junior champion in the relay. Before heading off on holiday this week to sunny Reunion Island, she agreed to talk to Nordic Magazine. Interview.

• When you look back on your season, which was marked by some magnificent performances, what comes to mind?

It was pretty crazy! I wasn’t expecting so much before the winter. I’m really pleased with the season. You can’t help but be pleased when things go your way. I’ve got lots of little things running through my mind: my first win, my first podium, the gold medal in the relay at the junior world championships, the small globe… I remember it all, and it was incredible!

• You had a busy winter, but you were impressively consistent for your first IBU Cup season. Is that what you’re most proud of?

Yes, that’s one of the things I’m really happy about. Being consistent is something you really want to achieve. Even with the intense series of competitions, especially in March, I’ve seen that I’ve managed to stay in good shape. That’s really satisfying.

• Do you feel like you’re skipping stages as you climb the steps at impressive speed?

It’s something I don’t look at too much. I just try to move forward, and things come as they come. I’m doing my little bit.

• It’s a path that has taken you all the way to the IBU Cup overall at just 19 years of age. You kept saying during the winter that this wasn’t your objective, but you were in the lead before the last five races… How did you manage that?

I wasn’t expecting to be in the lead overall at any point in the season. It never became my main objective, because I had chosen to go to the Junior Worlds. Nevertheless, it was great and it’s a great experience to have been able to take part in this general classification for a few races. I take it as a bonus, a chance. And then I got a little globe, the individual one, which I’m really proud of.

• You have a fairly calm temperament, but what was it like inside when you had one great result after another? Was it easy not to get carried away?

I question myself quite often, because I know that nothing can be taken for granted, especially in biathlon where everything can change so quickly. I approach each race with the same state of mind, always with the desire to give my best on the big day.

• Did you feel like you were on cloud nine?

I was clearly better than I thought I could be before the season. From my first podiums onwards, everything followed naturally. When I saw that I could play up front, it gave me confidence and helped me to keep that momentum going.

• Last summer, you were part of a federal group, the Excellence 2030 collective. Is spending a season following such preparation different from a committee?

I haven’t really noticed any big differences. It’s mainly in the summer that things change, with longer and more courses. Otherwise, I don’t think it’s had any particular influence on my season, but it’s helped me to continue my progress.

• So this winter was the first time you’d joined a group in the IBU Cup with girls much older than you. How did you manage that?

Really good! We’ve got a great group of girls. We all pull each other up, and when you see the level we’ve reached in the French team this year, I think it’s a really good match.

• In the end, the World Junior Championships, with two relay medals but no individual medals, were almost a disappointment for you this season. Would you agree?

The junior world championships weren’t easy… If there’s one small disappointment in the season, it’s the individual races at the Worlds. I could have hoped for better, given what I showed in the IBU Cup. But I’ve still got two medals in the relays, which is already incredible!

• What areas have you identified for work over the coming summer?

I’m going to have to continue working on all aspects of biathlon! I’m thinking in particular of my consistency in the standing shot. It was better at the end of the season, but I still need to improve. Prone is a strong point that I’ve been able to build on, but I want to confirm that. And in skiing, there are plenty of technical aspects to improve, particularly to be more efficient on the flat, downhill sections.

• Is your next target necessarily the World Cup?

I’m thinking more about continuing to be regular in the IBU Cup. After that, yes, the World Cup is in the back of my mind, but that’s for later. First of all, I want to continue to gain experience in the IBU Cup, especially as I’m still a junior!

• Firsts for Martin Botet, Axel Garnier and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin: the full French team selection for the IBU Cups in Idre Fjäll and Geilo
• Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, aged just 19, on her first IBU Cup selection: “It’s really good to discover a new circuit, it makes you want to do it”.
• Voldiya Galmace-Paulin on her IBU Cup debut in Idre Fjäll: “A top 20 for my first race, I’m really happy, especially shooting 8/10”.
• IBU Cup d’Arber: Gilonne Guigonnat wins the second sprint ahead of Amandine Mengin, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin takes her first podium finish
• “I’m obviously very happy,” Voldiya Galmace-Paulin tells Nordic Magazine after her first IBU Cup podium in Arber.
• Ridnaun-Val Ridanna sprint: first IBU Cup victory for Voldiya Galmace-Paulin
• Voldiya Galmace-Paulin tells Nordic Magazine after her first IBU Cup win: “One of the best races I’ve ever done”.
• IBU Cup Ridnaun-Val Ridanna: on cloud nine, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin wins the pursuit
• Voldiya Galmace-Paulin’s reaction after her sprint/chase double at the Ridnaun-Val Ridanna IBU Cup: “It’s just incredible”.
• Östersund: despite four penalty laps and a fall, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny are runners-up in the junior mixed relay.
• “Even with four laps to go, we’re still capable of going for a medal…”. These are the words of Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Amandine Mengin, Gaëtan Paturel and Edgar Geny, who won silver in the mixed relay at the World Junior Championships.
• Östersund: hot favourites Célia Henaff, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Anaëlle Bondoux and Amandine Mengin are crowned world junior relay champions
• “Moments we’ll remember forever”: Célia Henaff, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Anaëlle Bondoux and Amandine Mengin, world junior relay champions in Östersund, tell us about their memories
• IBU Cup: at just 19, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin wins the small globe in the individual event
• “I’m really proud”: Voldiya Galmace-Paulin’s joy at winning her first career IBU Cup Petit Globe
• IBU Cup Otepää: Voldiya Galmace-Paulin dominates the sprint ahead of Camille Bened and Paula Botet, Gilonne Guigonnat fifth
• Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, French U22 mass-start champion in Les Saisies: “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my season”.