Johannes Boe took everyone by surprise this Saturday by announcing the end of his career at the end of this season. Starting with his coach, Siegfried Mazet.
The end of an era
In the middle of the day, the biathlon planet stopped spinning. While he had announced that he would retire next year after the Olympic season, Johannes Boe finally decided to put the skis and the rifle in the closet at the end of this winter.
The Norwegian, legend of the discipline with numerous records, did not see himself continuing another season. Milan Cortina's Olympic dream is not strong enough, family and her two young children come first. A shock announcement that surprised everyone, especially his coach with whom he won everything, Siegfried Mazet : “He called us this morning to announce that he was ending his careerexplains the French coach on the microphone of the L’Équipe channel. That's the simplest reason, after that it's still Johannes. He always followed his instinct, whether in training on the no shooting or in competition.
-Yes, it surprises me (that Johannes Boe is stopping at the end of this season). It surprises everyone because we are focused on this four-year Olympic cycle. Stopping on the eve of an Olympic season surprises everyone, it would be a lie to tell you otherwise. But he won everything. He could do another year to add lines to his record, but he realizes that in the end he already had all that. It's his family and his private life that matter.
We have built a strong relationship with the Boe brothers and in particular Johannes. The same type as the one I had with Martin (Fourcade). It brings back all the emotions I had with Martin and now with Johannes. Usually I'm pretty bad at tears, now they came.”
Photo credit: Thibaut/NordicFocus
