Siegfried Mazet will be stepping down as Head Coach of the Norwegian Biathlon Men's Team after the Olympic Season 2025-2026. This was announced by the Norwegian Biathlon Federation in a press release earlier this afternoon. Mazet had taken on the role in 2016, guiding the team to over 150 World Cup victories in his decade-long tenure. - and still counting until next March.

Mazet came to Norway in 2016 and has since played a central role in the Norwegian team’s success. His eye for detail, combined with a unique ability to build strong relationships made him one of the most respected coaches in the biathlon community, often lending his expertise in the IBU Academy's Coach Education Courses in recent years.

Mentored by Jean Paul Giachino

Mazet developed his coaching skills in the French system, absorbing information and ideas from colleagues and teammates, building insight and creativity into his own philosophy. “My mentor was (French Women’s Shooting Coach) Jean Paul Giachino. When I started with the French men, both he and Stephane (Bouthiaux) were very experienced. I learned from both of them but mostly Jean Paul; they were always quiet but when they spoke, it was always the right words. You have to listen to others; never forget what the guys before you said.”

Lessons from Raphael Poirée

Bringing out the best in a long line of top biathletes including notably World Cup Total Score winners Martin Fourcade, Johannes Thingnes Boe and Sturla Holm Laegreid remains one of Mazet’s unique skills. He credits an important lesson learned from training alongside 4-time Total Score winner Raphael Poirée . “I remember this so well.” Raphael said, “Every training is a competition and every competition is a training. It is exactly like that. If you train like you are competing, then you improve.”

“Transform them into thinking like biathletes”

The 47-year-old changed the mindset of Norwegian biathletes in his tenure, helping ensure the team’s year-in, year-out dominance of the BMW IBU World Cup circuit. Leaving the French team and protégé Martin Fourcade behind and coming to Norway, Mazet faced a double-edged sword: a very successful group of biathletes, but in reality, a group of excellent cross-country skiers whose focus was not on the range. The challenge was to transform them into thinking like biathletes. “It took me a long time to change the spirit. I feel now after the past three or four recent seasons that there is kind of a culture of the biathlon spirit. It was important they saw things in the big picture. Of course, you have to go fast on the skis and shoot well. It is not just the combination but the mix of both.”

As Siegfreid Mazet moves on, he leaves behind a strong foundation that will impact Norwegian biathlon for many years to come.

You can find the full press release here.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Vianney Thibaut, Jerry Kokesh