Having achieved promising results in the IBU Cup last season, Fany Bertrand is a very promising French biathlete looking to excel outside the French national team setup.

During the 2024/2025 season, Fany Bertrand was still a member of the French national team. However, the high level of competition among biathletes in France cost her spot on the team. But since then, she has never given up and has achieved some outstanding results in the IBU Cup and at national competitions.

For ProXCskiing.com, the two-time bronze medalist at the 2024 World Junior Championships explains what kept her motivated:

“I think what kept me going was taking charge of my own project: I did things that were truly for myself, and that felt more meaningful. I felt good, I had a great summer, so I think that helped with my preparation. When I feel fulfilled, I know things work out better for me. I had more confidence in myself than in previous years, and I think that’s what made the difference,” Bertrand explained.

To help her achieve new goals, she was given the freedom to choose her coach and her training group:

“I have a coach who designs my training program (Robin Baudin), and I train with the Savoie Ski Committee,” she said.

Despite her strong performance, she shares with us her reaction when she learned she would not be selected for the national teams:

“I took it hard that I wasn’t selected, but I think that’s normal and that anyone would have reacted the same way because the goal is to compete in the World Cup, and to be in the World Cup, you have to be on the French national team. But I’ve managed to put things into perspective over time because my return to the Savoie Ski Committee has taught me a great deal.”

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Aware of the high level of competition in France, she ultimately took it all in stride:

“The level of competition in France is incredibly high—it has its positives; it’s beautiful to watch and impressive—but it also comes with its share of challenges. At first, I saw returning to the committee as a setback, but in the end, I took many positives from it. For me, the most important thing is to be true to myself and stay true to my values, so I’m very happy with this journey,” Fany Bertrand tells us.

Having finished fourth three times and sixth once last season in the IBU Cup, Fany Bertrand has managed to take her performance to a new level:

“Last season’s results made me realize that I’d reached a new level, and it feels great! I’d been waiting for this for a long time, and yet I didn’t even feel like I’d made any progress over the winter. Now I’m able to make it to the podium with 9/10 and 10/10, whereas before I was just making the top 10 with that kind of performance. It motivates me even more; it makes me want to go even further and work even harder and better,” she said.

She also won the overall title in the French Cup last season, with ten podium finishes, including eight victories.

As part of her summer training, she spends a lot of time at high altitude in Bessans, Savoie (France), before competing again on the national roller ski circuit this autumn:

“So, I’ll be training with the Savoie committee throughout the entire preparation period, and we’ll be spending a lot of time in Bessans: it’s great because I think it’s a fantastic place to train. It’s in the mountains – I love the mountains – so it feels really good to be there. As for competitions, I’ll be competing in the Samse National Summer Tour events in La Féclaz and Arçon, and then the start of the season will be here before we know it, since the tryouts are at the end of November,” she explains.

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Her goals for next season are clear, and she makes no secret of them:

“There’s still one spot left for France in the IBU Cup, and as for my goal this year – I think I need to make this clear – I’d really like to make it to the World Cup. I think you shouldn’t be afraid to go for it, and that’s the path I want to take. I’ve always been afraid to speak up, but last year I managed to assert myself a little more, and it did me good. So, the goal is to perform well in the IBU Cup so I can then move on to the World Cup: that’s the big goal.” She tells us.

“But without any pretensions,” she concludes with a smile.

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