On the eve of the Paralympic Winter Games in Val di Fiemme, the French para biathlon team embodies a fascinating contrast: a decorated champion chasing history, a fearless young talent capable of brilliance or collapse, and a coach learning to harmonise both. At the centre of this dynamic are Benjamin Daviet, Karl Tabouret, and their coach, Anais Bescond - three personalities with one shared ambition.

The Pursuit of a Third Chapter

Benjamin Daviet’s journey into para biathlon began in 2011, when he joined the French Nordic ski team. Given the opportunity to combine cross-country skiing and biathlon, he embraced both disciplines without hesitation. That dual foundation shaped the athlete he is today: precise on the range, powerful on the skis.

A three-time Paralympic champion, Daviet now stands on the brink of something rarer still — defending his gold medals at a third consecutive Games. Yet he dismisses the idea of added pressure.

36-year-old Daviet has delivered in both areas this season. Although he did not claim an individual victory during the World Cup campaign, his consistency throughout the winter kept him in contention for the Crystal Globe, which he ultimately lost to Mark Arendz by just four points. For a man who has already experienced the summit of elite sport, motivation now lies not in history books, but in the battle itself. He also recognises the threat and the promise in the teammate training beside him.

“Karl has strong mental abilities and excellent shooting skills,” Daviet says. “He can become a Paralympic champion, even here in Val di Fiemme. He just needs to trust himself on the shooting range. He knows very well how to do it, even better than many others.”

Between Podium and Uncertainty

Karl Tabouret’s path to para biathlon began in the tracks of his older sister. A cross-country skier from Les Saisies, he trained in the same club alongside Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon. In 2019, he joined the French para Nordic team's training camps. Shortly before officially committing, he tried biathlon and fell in love with it.

Now, he arrives at his first Paralympic Games with World Cup podium finishes already to his name. During the final World Cup event in Jakuszyce, he won the sprint, standing on the highest step of the podium for the first time in his career. But still unpredictability remains part of his profile. One day, he challenges the world’s best; the next, he slips outside the TOP 10.

22-year-old Tabouret openly admires Daviet’s composure.

“What impresses me most is that he never gets stressed. His shooting rhythm and his consistency — they’re examples for me. One day, he advised me to trust myself more. I have always tended to doubt myself and panic quite easily. Benjamin made me realize that I can do many things without any problem”, says Tabouret.

Self-doubt has often accompanied Tabouret’s raw talent. Over time, his lifestyle has transformed — stricter routines, disciplined recovery, sacrifices that come with elite sport. The French team has become his second family. Last winter’s podiums expanded his ambitions.

“Now I am going to the Paralympic Games with the hope of shining.”

Learning to Lead While Guiding Two Extremes

For Anaïs Bescond, a three-time Olympic medallist from PyeongChang, who joined the para team as a new coach while Daviet was already at his peak, the challenge has been twofold: finding her voice as a coach and adapting it to two very different athletes.

With Daviet, collaboration defines the relationship. Their exchanges are built on shared expertise and mutual respect. Improvement comes through discussion and cooperation.

With Tabouret, the approach is more directive.

“I give him instructions, corrections, exercises. He functions instinctively and still needs to develop self-analysis. Karl is young and still inexperienced, but he has enormous potential. He is fortunate to train alongside Benjamin, who shows him the way. Sometimes he can be a bit distracted and lacks rigor in his training. It’s not always easy to guide him because his way of thinking is different from mine.”

And yet, she smiles when asked what she has learned from them.

“They’re teaching me how to become a coach. And they are both developing my patience — though not to the same degree.”

Shared Rooms, Shared Ambitions

Perhaps the most symbolic image of this French athlete duo lies not on the shooting range, but in the hotel rooms they share during the season.

Daviet’s organizational rigor offers structure to Tabouret’s instinctive energy. In training, they push each other. In conversation, they exchange experiences. For the younger athlete, it is a shortcut through years of trial and error; for the champion, it is a reminder that legacy is not only written in medals, but also in mentorship.

As the Paralympic spotlight turns toward Val di Fiemme, France’s para biathlon story is not solely about defending gold or chasing a first medal. It is also about balance — between water and fire, certainty and possibility, teaching and learning.

Photos: IBU | Wlaźlak