Siegfried Mazet's return to French biathlon

Siegfried Mazet, a Drôme native, returned to lead the French shooting team last spring after spending ten years in Norway training top biathletes, including the Boe brothers and Sturla Holm Lægreid. Mazet took over from Jean-Pierre Amat and noted that he has matured and gained a lot of experience, having lived a different biathlon culture compared to his time with the French team between 2008 and 2016.

French biathlon's evolution

Mazet emphasized that the organization of biathlon in Norway differs from that in France, and upon returning, he was struck by the evolution of the French facilities over the past decade. He highlighted that there are aspects where France was behind Norway in 2016 but now has Norway in its rearview mirror.

Technical staff's contributions

Mazet specifically commended the contributions of physical trainer Romain Hurtault, who is described as very present and concrete, with a lot of follow-up in terms of physical preparation. He also noted the expertise of Jonas Forot, the head of high performance follow-up at the National Center for Nordic Skiing and Medium Mountains (CNSNMM) in Prémanon (Jura), for his precise and coherent expertise on altitude training, which Mazet described as incredible.

Supporting staff and team updates

The pool of physiotherapists and doctor Lénaïc Minjollet complete the picture of a coaching staff described as "very ambitious and very motivated" by Mazet. Other developments include Simon Fourcade and Mazet providing an update on the form of the French team less than 30 days before the start of the 2026/2027 World Cup.

Athlete movements and preparations

Mazet shared insights on Emilien Jacquelin's move to cycling and assessed the relay of the French team upon returning from his ten years in Norway. Other news includes Lucas Marceau being identified as a hero in biathlon and Patrick Favre placing Julia Simon among the favorites for the big crystal globe.

Personal and team adjustments

Eric Perrot worked on reworking his protocol this summer, and Camille Bened reacted to her arrival in the Army of Champions through the National Gendarmerie.