Biathlon: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet to Miss Summer Training Camp with French Team After Personal Decision

Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, the 2022 Olympic mass-start champion, has chosen to organize her preparation for the 2026-2027 biathlon season around a better balance between sport and family life, according to the French Ski Federation. The FFS announced that she will step away from the French national team during the summer preparation period, while remaining fully committed to the long-term collective project of French biathlon.

The federation said this decision was made after personal and sporting discussions with the French biathlon staff, the national technical director, and the president of the French Ski Federation. It described the arrangement as part of a broader effort to help the athlete continue competing at the highest level in a framework that is coherent, demanding, and sustainable.

Braisaz-Bouchet, who finished 11th in the overall World Cup standings, has already followed a similar individualized preparation model before the 2023-2024 season. Her choice reflects a recurring approach to training that allows her to adapt her schedule while maintaining her elite performance standards.

The announcement comes as French women’s biathlon prepares for the 2026-2027 campaign under the coaching leadership of Cyril Burdet, with Patrick Favre in charge of shooting. The setup aims to support the team’s ambitions while accommodating the needs of its leading athletes.

Braisaz-Bouchet’s decision highlights the growing importance of personal balance in high-performance sport, especially for athletes combining international competition with family responsibilities. The FFS emphasized that her temporary withdrawal from the group is not a break from the national project, but rather a tailored preparation plan designed to support both her private life and sporting goals.

Her case stands out as one of the most prominent examples of an elite French biathlete adapting her training structure to fit a more sustainable rhythm. Despite stepping back from the collective summer build-up, she remains one of the key figures in French biathlon and is expected to continue playing a major role in future seasons.

This development underscores the federation’s willingness to support individual arrangements when they serve both performance and longevity. For Braisaz-Bouchet, the objective remains clear: to stay competitive at the highest level while preserving an equilibrium that works for her life beyond sport.