Biathlon: Emilien Claude’s return to the French team in Geilo
He started packing on Sunday. Forty-eight hours before travelling to Geilo (Norway) to take part in the French men’s biathlon team’s final Olympic training camp, Emilien Claude was already feeling the tingling in his legs.
It has to be said that the 26-year-old from Bassur has come a long way. After undergoing emergency surgery for a herniated disc at the start of September, he had to undergo rapid rehabilitation, but he did so in the proper manner and according to protocol, so as not to jeopardise his season.
Emilien Claude, back in form, is (finally) back with the French team. I’ve had a full fortnight at Prémanon since I got back from Austria,” he told Nordic Magazine midday on Monday. I’ve been able to do some good work again and, now, you can almost say that I’m 100% ready to meet up with my mates in Norway. I’m really happy.
“As the weeks and days go by, I’m making progress”.
Although he will still have to adapt his programme in the month leading up to the first World Cup races, the man from the Vosges confides that he is delighted to be back with the group when he gets back on his cross-country skis: “I’ll be back in a team rhythm, which will be good even if I’ve been able to see the guys a few times since my operation. Above all, I’ll be able to train with them at least 80% of the time! That’s really great.
The only medical contraindication to sparing his back concerns the amount of time spent running at high intensity. I can’t do more than 30 to 40 minutes at the moment because, if there is a risk, it lies here,” he reveals. The challenge is not to hurt myself before Östersund.
On Monday, on the Jura slopes of Prémanon (Jura), Emilien Claude was able to test himself one last time on ski-wheels before flying off to Scandinavia.
I was in the race pace and I didn’t feel any pain,” he says. I felt good, so that’s really encouraging and gives us a great outlook for the start of the season in a month’s time. As the weeks go by and the days go by, I’m making progress, so that’s encouraging.
- Bassurois Emilien Claude out of action after surgery for herniated disc
- Emilien Claude tells Nordic Magazine after his herniated disc operation: “If I manage to take the start of the first World Cup, it will already be a victory”.
- “He’s ahead of schedule”: Simon Fourcade, coach of the French team, gives news of Emilien Claude, who recently underwent surgery for a herniated disc in Austria.
- Emilien Claude is back on skis and wheels, just over five weeks after surgery for a herniated disc: “Back to biathlon with the rifle in my back in ten days’ time”.
- “Going head-to-head with the world’s elite”: departure day in Norway for the French men’s team, expected on the snow in Geilo for the final training camp in their Olympic preparations.
