Biathlon: Yvon Mougel and his friend the rifle
Rifle my friend.
My hands hold his stick. Every day I pick it up and feel its curves in my palms. This object in my colours never leaves my side. The barrel sits securely on its bedding, topped by the rear sight and thumbwheels. The rifle gives me confidence in front of targets.
At home, if it’s not sleeping in its cover, it’s propped up in the corner of the partition or on a piece of furniture, clearly visible. I need to see her. To know that she’s safe. From time to time, to revise or to get myself in shape, physically or mentally, I sling it over my shoulder, aiming at a black circle line fixed to the wall. Series of repetitions of five releases without cartridges anchor my base of well-doing. Seeing, touching, trying, repeating endlessly, feeling calm, without effort or cartridge is the foundation on which I rest.
My rifle is like an extension of myself. After the effort I put in on my skis, I have to respect it and make the best use of what it has to offer. As I prepare to shoot, I think a lot about breathing. As I approached the mat, I quickly left the shoulder straps behind and my hands moved her into the right position. A quick glance at the flags to gauge the wind direction. Adjust the setting with a few clicks if necessary.
“The rifle listens, transmits and reacts to the slightest gesture imposed on it”.Yvon Mougel at Nordic Magazine
My cheek comes to rest exactly against the grip. My hand wraps perfectly around the grip, my index finger out, ready to touch the trigger. The eye is ideally adjusted to see through the tiny dioptre opening. Through the front sight installed at the end of the barrel, I aim at a target, aligning the circular sights as perfectly as possible. At the same time, my finger begins to squeeze the trigger. I fix the rifle in my hands as best I can, press it against me, all overpowered by the scent of effort. When the rifle is perfectly centred, I instantly increase the pressure with my finger. The shot goes off… I see the target tilt in the sights. It’s a success. The next shots are repeated. A short breath between each shot, that’s the sequence. Breathe, centre, press, I have to stay focused on that. Decide on the spot, immediately, the automatic system adjusts to the right tenth. Avoid doing things too soon, too late or with a finger. Repetition is linear, identical sometimes or adapted, often, depending on the conditions.
Thought plays the spoilsport. It pays attention to the nearby opponent, the environment and the score being analysed. The rifle listens, transmits and reacts to the slightest gesture imposed on it. It is a product of precision, our friend who is always obedient but sometimes difficult to understand. That’s why it takes hours and hours of sharing, listening and rehearsing to achieve a perfect match.
If she makes a mistake in the penalty ring, I’ll have time to try and understand what I forced her to do without asking. I forced her to go where she didn’t belong. The hundred and fifty metres to go remind me that there are rules to respect.
This good friend knows how to impose herself, in her own way! You need to get to know her, her qualities and her reactions if you want to make the most of her knowledge and succeed together, like an old couple.
- Yvon Mougel, world medallist in 1981 and three-time Olympian, talks about the mixed relay: “The French team played in a dream race”.
- Yvon Mougel, world medallist in 1981 and three-time Olympian, recalls the men’s individual: “We’ll remember the embrace between Johan-Olav Botn and Eric Perrot”.
- Yvon Mougel, world medallist in 1981 and three-time Olympian, talks about the women’s individual: “The moisture covered my eyes”.
