Justine Braisaz-Bouchet made waves on December 20, 2024, at the Biathlon World Cup held at Grand-Bornand, clinching her first victory of the season with emotional victory amid the fervent cheers of her home crowd. Having struggled with her shooting accuracy throughout the early season, Braisaz-Bouchet's success at this prestigious event marked not only her return to form but also highlighted the significance of competing in front of familiar fans.
Braisaz-Bouchet, who has faced challenges since the season began, took to the podium after her exhilarating sprint to celebrate what was her tenth career win on the World Cup circuit. “I feel very lucky to win here,” she expressed. “It's quite unique this kind of atmosphere. You feel supported, unique when you're on the track, and at the same time united because we're the French team. There is a special fervor. We feel carried,” reported L'Équipe.
With intense anticipation surrounding her performance, Braisaz-Bouchet had previously grappled with the pressure on the shooting range, exhibiting erratic results with shooting accuracy just above 75% prior to this event. This time, she managed to hit 9 out of 10 targets and captured the second-fastest ski time among the athletes. Braisaz-Bouchet's recent struggles had left her wrestling with disappointment, particularly after finishing sixth in Hochfilzen just the week before.
"I was very affected by my races at Hochfilzen. I left feeling massive disappointment and anger against myself: I got tired of these race scenarios where I left with more than mediocre results," Braisaz-Bouchet opened up about her feelings of frustration after those past events. To recharge, she took a brief hiatus back home, spending time with her family.
Reflecting on this brief respite, Braisaz-Bouchet stated, "I took home for just two days with my daughter, Côme. This allowed me to take off the biathlon cap and recharge quickly.” This allowed her to mentally reset and gather her focus, leading to her successful performance at Grand-Bornand.
The final moments of the race proved to be thrilling, particularly as Braisaz-Bouchet edged out Germany's Franziska Preuss by just 1.4 seconds. Preuss, the overall leader of the World Cup standings, maintained her accuracy without any mistakes at the shooting range, yet it was Braisaz-Bouchet's superior skiing technique and determination through the course's challenging terrain which sealed the victory.
"I had tears in my eyes after the race. I took so much pleasure. I had to be bold on the shooting range. I'm very happy with the result and the manner," said Braisaz-Bouchet as she celebrated her success and reflected on the pressures becoming manageable. Anamarija Lampic from Slovenia rounded out the podium, marking her first time achieving such heights at the World Cup level, achieving third place with two shots missed during the competition.
The race at Grand-Bornand served as both a comeback story for Braisaz-Bouchet, who previously wondered about her shooting confidence, and a joyful occasion embraced fully by the numerous French supporters eager to cheer on their star athlete. This victory established her position firmly within the racing scene, and she looks to build upon this success as the World Cup circuit continues.
With hopes high and confidence restored, Braisaz-Bouchet is set to compete again as the pursuit events lie just around the corner. She aims to build upon the momentum from her emotional victory. The excitement and support from the crowd elevates not only her performance but also inspires her teammates and future competitors at the elite level. Braisaz-Bouchet's story of resilience, familial support, and determination paints the perfect backdrop for the narrative of this winter sports season.
