#antonin guigonnat

[laeana]

“It seemed to us that their results weren't good enough to get them into Group A,” Stéphan Bouthiaux, Director of the French teams, tells Nordic Magazine.

To explain the Vosgien's relegation, the French biathlon boss points to a "sporting trajectory that stagnated at an insufficient level". "Emilien [Claude] is already twenty-five years old, and he's been in A for two years now [during the summer], then had almost similar seasons, with a good month of November, a decent start to the season, then disappeared for the rest of the winter," laments the Pontissalien native.

As for Antonin Guigonnat, the oldest French biathlete at thirty-three, Simon Fourcade reveals that the decision "was more complicated to accept, given his extensive World Cup experience and the training group he occupied". “His age played a big part in the decision," admits Stéphane Bouthiaux. He's on a downward trajectory in terms of results. For the first time [in a long time], he didn't go to the Worlds [last winter], and the few bright spots in his season simply don't merit selection in an A group at his age."

“This could be an opportunity for him to take a fresh look at himself, try to raise his level and get back into the group," confirms Simon Fourcade. The doors aren't closed, as they were for Emilien Claude, because there will be two places available at the start of the season, which will allow many athletes to aspire to the World Cup."

Excuse me, biathlon fandom, I need to vent and to rant for a bit. I know this is a bit biased because I obviously hold a lot of affection for Antonin, but I have to talk in front of such bullshit.

So recently French selection took Antonin and Emilien out of the A group. And this article then appeared as the explanations. Now, as to why I’m wildly unhappy with it;

The French team reduced their group from 7 to 5. We could argue that taking Emilien out could be justified as he had time where he didn’t race, but I feel like if you take that in account it’s even worse. He had to take a break in his season, he even thanked the trusts of his coaches, and then he’s evaluated as “he’s been stagnant for two season, he needs to be out”. When he couldn’t even compete.

Now onto the biggest case that makes me annoyed the most, Antonin. Antonin has experience, and maybe his performances aren’t stellar but he’s mostly capable and he’s a good relay (a thing France has clearly been lacking during last season - they had literally four people to do every relay).

For me Bouthiaux’s words are those of an hypocrite. Antonin did amazing results in the European championships, and yet he wasn’t selected. It’s not his fault he wasn’t at the worlds, yet it’s displayed as if it was. The French team didn’t even take six people to the worlds and Oscar didn’t do a single race.

They expect him to rival the Norwegians in the IBU cup, but let me tell you one thing. I’ve spent my year watching the IBU Cup and those Norwegians are freaking talented. Some of them have World Cup level, and what I mean by that is top ranks on the World Cup. Johan-Olav Botn is one example. And yet, Antonin still manages to get a win, podium and good positions.

When I look at Antonin and Oscar’s seasons, I find them pretty similar. But it’s not to say one is better than the others, but that both of them should be on the World Cup.

What I really mean is that the French team is playing dangerous game now. They’re not realistic. They want to pretend they can do the same thing as Norway, they want to prioritize only five people as they’re the “best”, but not everyone is Eric. They should use the people they already have in the team, instead of doing this. We saw the results of using only four people for a relay the entire season.

They keep using the arguments that “this will help them to get motivated again and bring results again”, but even when there are results, they are not rewarded.

At this rate if they want to push Antonin to retire, they wouldn’t need to do anything else.

They pushed people out of the A group, to replace them … with nobody. Honestly at some point the French team could encounter a bigger crisis and I wouldn’t even be surprised, I would say I know what caused it :/

I can’t bring myself to like those decisions and I feel like they deserve better.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

*mic drop*

[quentinfiletmignon]

ANTONIN GUIGONNAT 🇫🇷

A4 • STABILO point 88 liners

[sportsallover]

Antonin il nous a fait une course de dingue !!

[moon-ascendant]

Johannes via Instagram Story

STOP THIS IS SO CUTE

[everybody-has-a-dream]

Here are the most chaotic clips from the Biathlon Gingerhouse Competition

(somehow it's mostly Vetle and Sebastian)

[c2-eh]

Émilien Jacquelin in Antonin's Hochfilzen vlog // the amount of love and admiration i have for this man <3

[moto-leafs]

🇫🇷 ALLEZ LES BLEUS — french overjoy as they take the mens gold | biathlon world championships | february 18th, 2023

[rawairdontcare]

Emilien and Antonin crossing the finish line together 😂

[baguette-jpg]

How I see my ships part1 with seven of them … the seven that will work in one of my fic ideas 😂

[crossed-out-name]

What did Antonin eat for breakfast? I've never seen him run this fast before.

[wintersportism]

oh no antonin :(

[laeana]

Those moments where the French biathletes acted suspiciously,

or like we like to call it, those real life moments where fanfics write themselves.

Here is a non exhaustive lists of moments that got us raising eyebrows and be blinking, wondering if it wasn't, even a tiny tiny bit, a peculiar situation.

Emilien waiting for Eric in the sauna (I mean, who am I to judge?)

2. Oh look just a picture of two teammates helping each other right? It would be if there hadn't been a joke about them proposing to one another.

[In the comments : Anna : @Eric you proposed to @Emilien 😱🤪/ Emilien : no it's actually me 😏/ Eric : you jealous 😌😉/ Anna : not if I can be the bridesmaid 😌😉]

3. Eric's hand on Fabien's torso (yep. Same Eric, same.)

4. I, too, love to passionately hug my teammate for several seconds with my full body at the end of the season, right Quentin, Emilien?

5. why. are. you. almost. naked? Where are your clothes? Why is most of the French team exhibitionists? (Also wtf get off the ground Oscar😭)

6. Emil getting on his knees for Quentin (sounds like a fair way to celebrate, I'll admit.)

7. Fabien, about Eric and him sharing a bed.

8. yes. That is Emil's ass. Just because.

[Appeared in one of Antonin's vlog, I guess Emil sometimes sleeps naked, even if he's rooming with someone-]

9. Last but not least, generally, the amount of pictures where they are naked or almost, or showing their asses/their teammates' asses. Pretty sure in Anto's vlog you got at least Quentin's and Antonin's during physio session.

[quentinfiletmignon]

EUROPEAN SPRINT CHAMPION 🥇

[sportsallover]

Praying for Anto, who’s chasing two Norwegians alone 🙏

[moon-ascendant]

I'm happy for Emilien & Antonin 😭❤️

[footbiall]

AAAAAAH MERCI ET BRAVO LES GARS POUR CETTE MÉDAILLE !! 🇫🇷🥇QUELLE COURSE COLLECTIVE 💙