Biathlon: the joy of Camille Bened
This Wednesday morning, the biathlete from Chablais Camille Bened24 years old, won the individual of the IBU Cup of Geilo (Norway). Author of 20/20, she continues thus a third podium in a row on circuit B and returns there for the first time since January 2022.
A few minutes after the flower ceremony, the Haut-Savoyarde Camille Bened took the time to confide in Nordic Magazine. Interview.
- In what conditions did this individual from Geilo (Norway) take place?
Ce [mercredi] morning, it was very cold, -16°C! We shortened the warm-up a little to save energy before the race. It wasn’t necessarily easy to manage this temperature because we are no longer necessarily in this “very cold”. Normally, it’s still OK for winter, but it’s been a long time since we’ve encountered this kind of temperature. The body is no longer very used to it and we had to adapt, particularly with regard to the gloves. During the race, there was no wind at the shooting range and the track was a little slow with the cold snow. Personally, I felt like my body was frozen and frozen. When I was skiing, I had this feeling of not moving forward or going slowly!
- How did this race go for you?
Despite everything, I felt good and I was calm. An individual race is always a relatively long race with quite specific management to adopt. The watchword was really to do the job on the shooting range and to be ultra consistent on the track. I managed to do it today [mercredi] by doing a 20/20 where I applied myself to each ball. I really tried to take them one after the other. On the skis, I was focused on my technique and I wanted to try to be as consistent as possible. In the end, it was a great race!
“I tell myself that I am capable of being consistent in the IBU Cup and of having good races”Camille Bened at Nordic Magazine
- Exactly, we imagine you happy after this victory, only your second in the IBU Cup…
I’m super happy! It is a successful race throughout its entire length. I have been chasing a win since January 2022. After all the adventures I have gone through [surentraînement puis blessure ces deux derniers hivers, NDLR]starting the season with two podiums and a win feels good. I tell myself that I am capable of being consistent in the IBU Cup and of having good races.
- Is seeing the work that has been done over the years something special to you?
It’s a huge satisfaction. This proves to me and allows me to tell myself that there have been hard times, but that we must not give up. In life, when you give yourself the means to get there, you can go as far as you want.
“It’s very good to take the lead now, but we’ll have to hold on”Camille Bened at Nordic Magazine
- You win at 20/20, is this a rare performance for you?
It’s not my first, but it’s special for a biathlete. 10/10 is something that happens a little more regularly. The 20/20 happens less often in the statistics even though it’s always doing the same thing! There is a kind of psychological barrier with this 20/20.
- You take the lead in the general ranking of the IBU Cup with this success…
You teach me! This is a goal after the races that I am capable of achieving in the first two weeks. I tell myself I can play it. Now the season is long. It’s very good to take the lead now, but we’ll have to hold on. We’ll talk about it again in two and a half months!
