Coupé and Bertrand want to give the best
The two Savoyard biathletes involved in these worlds in Kazakhstan, Camille Coupé and Fany Bertrand, both hope to end the season on a happy ending and that their bad flu contracted at the European championship is only a distant memory to give the best of themselves.
For Camille Coupé, the season seems to have relaunched since her 2nd place on the Hanja relay in the Junior cup, then the individual event of Madona where despite the first signs of the virus, she won the bronze medal. “It was a crazy race,” says the biathlete from La Féclaz. “I knew I had nothing to lose and I went into it with no pressure. The ski corresponded to my qualities and with a shot of 19/20 I could hardly do much. Then the flu confined her to bed, depriving her of other hardships. But in Shchuchinsk, the Féclazienne intends to erase this bad patch. “We will be five girls on site for four places at each race. I will do the individual event on March 6, after all will depend on the performance of the day. “As for ambitions, she prefers not to put unnecessary pressure on herself but knows that everything is still possible: “Many of us can claim medals. I go there with a lot of desire, without pressure. »
Bertrand: “I have revenge to take”
As for Fany Bertrand, her Staps license student teammate, she too is delighted with this selection after the Worlds-2022 where she was a simple spectator. “Sick last year, I was there in Lake Placid without taking any start, so I have revenge to take,” said the biathlete from Méribel, also suffering in Europe. “My ambitions are to do what I know and love to do. I will manage day by day but it is certain that running the relay with the team will remain the main objective. “She has already shown her form after her fine performances in the Junior cup (2 5th places on Hanja’s sprints).
Simon Fourcade’s protégés who left for Kazakhstan on Tuesday first had to reach Frankfurt by car before flying to Astana and finishing with another 4 hour drive to the race site. On the borders of this great country of Central Asia, they will have a thought for their friend Océane Michelon, not selected
Alexandre GARIN
