For 2.5 years, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet has lived with the suspicion that teammate Julia Simon took her credit card and shopped online. Last fall, Simon confessed and was also sentenced in court to a three-month suspended sentence. She was also suspended by the French federation and was missing from the World Cup premiere in Östersund.
The Julia Simon case is over and I don't want to comment on it. I focus, as I have in recent years, on my own performance, my career, my family and my daughter. That comes first, says Braisaz-Bouchet after the start of the season in Östersund.
This spring, a new scandal broke out in the French team. According to media reports, Braisaz-Bouchet caught Jeanne Richard trying to manipulate Océane Michelon's rifle during a World Cup competition. The French Ski Federation (which includes biathlon) recently confirmed a "violation of the group's rules" that led to a suspension this summer.
“Not important”
The French biathlon women have been better than ever in recent years, when they have had the Simon case hanging over them. And Braisaz-Bouchet says in Östersund that you don't have to be friends on the team to be able to perform in the competitions.
"It's not important, it's not a problem if you're not friends. I try to respect everyone, I really think I do, and I hang out with positive people and with my family," she says.
Not jealous
Hanna Öberg says she is not jealous of the situation in the French team.
It feels like we have much better team cohesion and support and help each other rather than snarl and sabotage, says Öberg.
But they seem to be able to be professionals when they are out competing.
France won the relay ahead of Italy and the Czech Republic.
