IBU 30 Years: On the Shooting Range with Siegfried Mazet

Changing the mindset

When Mazet moved to from mentoring the range fortunes of the French team to Norway in 2016, he was faced with a double-edged sword: a very successful group of biathletes, but one that was, in reality a group of excellent cross-country skiers whose focus was not on the range. The challenge was to change the mindset, 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. If you want to be successful, you have to see your opponent and what they are capable of. There are many different factors you have to take into account: thinking ‘now my skills are good at this and this but at this I have to be better.’ You need this tactical aspect in how you approach every competition. This was very important in working with the guys.”

Lesson from Raphael Poirée

In the early 90’s, Mazet trained with the French legend Raphael Poirée, learning a very important lesson that he’s never forgotten. “I remember this very 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, them you improve.’ Many athletes ask me how they can improve and after asking some questions, I find out they behave so differently between training and the race. If you put on a bib and behave differently than in training, you will fail every time.”

Mentors: “When they spoke...always the right words”

Although guided by basic philosophies, the 45-year-old continues to evolve as biathlon has throughout his career. “The coach I am today is different from the coach I was 10 years ago. If Martin or Simon (Fourcade) saw how I am coaching Johannes or Tarjei, they would be surprised at how different I am today.” Still a big part of his coaching skills came from his French colleagues almost 20 years ago. “I must say that 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.”

Most talented ever?

Siegfried Mazet’s career has worked with three biathlon legends, spanning the IBU’s 30-year history: Martin Fourcade, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and now Johannes Thingnes Boe. Asked about his most talented protégé ever, he replied, “Sturla (Holm Laegreid) for example is very talented. Johannes is talented but in a very different way than him or Vetle (Sjaastad Christiansen) or Tarjei (Boe). I think back to Martin who was very talented in standing but prone was so difficult for him. Quentin (Fillon Maillet) got nothing for free; a talented worker but not naturally skilled. As work skills go, it goes to Sturla, Quentin and Martin; they all worked hard to get to a super level. In terms of natural skills, no question it is for sure Johannes Thingnes Boe. At one point in his career, Johannes did not train with the rifle for several months and apologized to me for not shooting. Yet that first day in camp, you could not tell that he had not been shooting. He was so good; that is natural talent.”