Endre Stroemsheim won the 2022/23 IBU Cup Total Score, moved to the World Cup last season, finishing a more-than respectable 7th in the Total Score. Still winning the season-opening Kontiolahti Men’s 15 km Short Individual, earning his first-ever Yellow Bib was a huge thrill. Likewise for 20/21 IBU Cup Total Score winner Lou Jeanmonnot who won four times last year but finished second in the World Cup Total Score. Yesterday, Jeanmonnot won the Kontiolahti Women’s 12.5 km Short Individual and will be wearing Yellow in Saturday’s sprint.

Shortly after receiving their precious Yellow Bibs, Stroemsheim and Jeanmonnot sat down to talk about their big days and a bit about their Christmas plans.

Biathlonworld: What does it feel like taking the Yellow Bib in the first competition of the year?

Endre Stroemsheim: It is amazing. I was so angry because last year, I missed the last shot and missed the Yellow Bib. This year, I thought, ‘no way, no way am I going to do that again!’

Lou Jeanmonnot: It is a relief. It was a difficult summer, quite different form the previous year, so I did not know what to expect at the beginning of the winter. I am happy to see it worked well so in that way it is a relief.

BW: Did the weekend relays give you some confidence coming into the first individual competitions of the season?

ES: Yes, really much. It is so important, especially as a Norwegian.

LJ: Sure, it was great to feel the stress we have during the first races. It was good for that and to see that I am able to fight quite strongly with the other girls.

BW: What were your goals for this first individual competition of the season?

ES: Just to get a good start. I was happy with the top six today, but the win was awesome.

LJ: 100% shooting was the goal because I felt really great during training this week. As for skiing, to be able to hold a steady pace.

BW: Did you do anything different in your summer training this season compared to recent years?

ES: Yes, I had a lot of small changes, especially in shooting; less shooting but more quality.

LJ: I skied more often than last season so that was good for my technique. On the other side, it was stressful, and I was exhausted more often, quite different in many aspects.

BW: When you start the season with a victory or a great race, how hard is it to maintain that momentum for another 3 ½ months?

ES: I think it is easier when you start with the win than a bad race.

LJ: I do not think about that 3 ½ months. I just think about the challenge that is coming like wearing the Yellow Bib, being proud of that and the strength that comes with it. It is a feeling that it is something I earned and deserve (laughing). It is step-by-step for me. I will see what happens in the sprint and the rest of the trimester, but I do not want to focus on what happens in February.

Biathlonworld Bonus Question: It is 3 weeks until Christmas, what does your family do every year on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

ES: We always get together and eat Norwegian Christmas food.

LJ: It is always the same. The 24th with my family, along with many cousins and many other people. The 25th is with my parents and sister only. We live at home with my parents, so we enjoy a good morning and a meal with my grandmother. It is a bit quieter…and we open some presents!

Photos: IBU/Romans Koksarovs, Nordic Focus/Leo Authamayou, Christian Manzoni