Liv Grete and Raphael Poirée

How many kids do you want ?
Liv : Well, I would like 2 or 3. I would like that Emma gets siblings.

Raphael, in last April made Nordic-Aventure an April-fool and told that you've got Norwegian citizenship and are going to compete for Norway. Have you ever considered this ?
Raph : I've think of this before the beginning of my career … no, it was just a joke ! I'm born as a French and I'll die as a French !

Would you have been so successful without the other ?
Liv : It's difficult to say, but I think a lot of the success is because we were good together.

What memories do you have on your first World Cup race ?
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Liv : Oh, it's a difficult question … I remember … Raphael ! (laughs)
Raph : That's cool ! And me I remember all the other girls ! (laughs)
Liv : (still laughing) Without me !
Raph : No … how long are we married ?
Liv : 6 years and being together in 10 years.

Do you think or feel anything before the race ?
Liv : Yeah, I know how I've to be to make a good race and I'm always trying to find the right level - not too much and not too little nervous. I'm always trying to find a good sensation for the race.
Raph : More and more I feel that I've to be at home with my kid. It's this what I feel before the race. I'm not so nervous, before Emma Biathlon was everything, but know it's family and sport is just a game.

What was the best moment of your career so far ?
Liv : I think World Championships in Oslo !
Raph : In 2000. It's the same for me, because we won on the same day.

What's possible in Olympics ?
Liv : I hope to be better this year and that I can make a good race. If I can make my best race in Olympics it's enough ! And I hope of course that it's really good.
In the relay we have a good chance. We are 4 girls who like the altitude and I think we can be a strong relay when we are in shape.
Raph : I think with the relay we can be on the podium, but it has to be some team who makes a mistake. The track there is not difficult, the height makes it difficult, so I think we've a chance to get a podium.

Will this be your last season ?
Raph : Mhh .. we'll see !
Liv : I'll decide after the season in the summer. It does not depend on the Olympic races, but on Emma.

What do you think about the changes in Biathlon, like Show-races and night-races ?
Raph : For me I think it's very good. I've been once in this race "Auf Schalke". It's a very good show and I think we've to do this, but we've so much races in the World Cup and we've family, too, so for us it's impossible to go, because it's too much and there won't be time for other things.
Liv : It's the same for me. We've three weeks with competitions and when I come home I can't leave it again after two days to go there. It's good for the sport, but for me it's more important to show that I can be a good Mum when I've some holidays.
The night races are very nice, but it's difficult to sleep the night after, because you need some time to relax. But I like to race in the evening.
Raph : I like it too, but it's better to sleep than to have a race, because the day after it's difficult.
Liv : All races have to be just in the evening so that you can sleep longer the next morning. If the race is 10 o'clock in the morning the next day it's difficult.

Interview made by Anne Gassner & Karolin Hemp in January 2006