Even if the weekend started perfectly for the French women’s biathlon team, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet has things to sort out on her side.
Four races, four podiums, and two victories. The French biathlon team started the season perfectly this weekend in Östersund, dedicated to relays. With a common denominator for the two successes: the presence in the finale of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot.
If the latter showed good solidity for this recoveryher teammate admitted some shooting difficulties. During the women’s relay on Saturday, Braisaz-Bouchet shot 20 seconds slower than the Italian Lisa Vittozzi (who had to take risks to come back). Which is not necessarily a problem, however, because behind it, the “JBB” train is one of the most efficient on skis.
“The pressure, the stakes, the environment and the context oppress my lungs, said Braisaz-Bouchet on Saturday to explain his caution behind the rifle. My hands are shaking, so at the shooting range I take time to release my balls because I’m trying to find some relaxation. »
Braisaz-Bouchet, an extremely slow prone shot
On Sunday, it was even more obvious during the mixed relay. The Frenchwoman took a lot of time on the prone shot, being the slowest in her group (with 34 seconds more shooting time than Dorothea Wierer!). This allowed him to only make one small mistake. Next, Braisaz-Bouchet was fastest on the standing shot, where she was clearly more confident.
“The objective for me is really to find quality and repetition in my intentions. I’m having a little trouble getting through the second one on the couch. I’m still looking a little too hard for quality and the balls are having a hard time leaving, commented the Habs immediately on Eurosport. It’s a little trigger to have. My goal is not to shoot fast, far from it, but to find quality and consistency in my approach and what I achieve on the mat. »
On a relay, depending on the race situation, it may be a good idea to take your time to ensure better success against the targets. In an individual race, the balance is slightly different, in general, and Braisaz-Bouchet will undoubtedly have to accelerate the pace in order to play for victory. With the season just starting, she still has time to find her adjustments.
