CISM in Andermatt-Realp : The report

The strong rain that falls this Friday in the west of Switzerland does not signalize anything good for the last competition day of Military World Championships. But Andermatt awaits me with a nice surprise : From 9 o'clock the sun shines with its warmest rays. But because of this, the track becomes worse than ever. Nevertheless the sport soldiers and their caretakers are in their usual good mood. Obviously the joy about being in an exceptional pool consisting of cross-country skiers, alpines and biathletes helps to forget the fatigue at the end of a long season. But maybe it's just the funny sight how some cross-country skiers have to learn how to handle a rifle as fast as possible ?

This circumstance makes the patrol to a tricky business, because the shooting results affect the success enormously. Yes, it makes the patrol nearly to a lottery : 3 athletes have to hit a single target with a maximum of 3 cartridges (the chief of patrol does not shoot, but gives orders; on track he can carry the rifle of one of his comrades). Every missed shoot brings one penalty minute, so theoretically there is the risk of getting 9 minutes extra. Not to forget that one shots after the other and this after … 20 kilometres !

For the French patrol of the men Alexandre Rousselet has to swim in unknown lakes and rivers. For the women, Annelise Bailly comes back to her ancient sport. There was no help for the first-named, neither the advices of Jean-Paul Giachino, nor the succour of the experienced biathletes like Vincent Defrasne and Raphael Poirée. None of his 3 shots hit the goal.

Sandrine who is already ranked to high, did not have the honour to defend the French colours, but anyhow she wanted to be useful. So she becomes a "luxurious technician". With some skies in her hands she searches for the men, we already crossed this morning. We, means my helper Christophe (also known as Cicco2b) and me. He had the good idea to arm himself with a little French flag who helps ease the contact. It's true, 2 fans of the French team in this remoted place ! Christophe's nice job of a brewer in memory calling, also brings the confirmation of Sansan herself that the team does not disdain a certain galactic beverage (as we already knew from other sources) !

And as we are on track to confirm things, or better said to correct them, we can let fall silent the voices of those who spoke after the Olympics about Sandrine's motivation and meant that the end of her career came nearer and nearer. This affair had his beginning with the question of a journalist, if she will attack in Vancouver after the missed gold. She answered, true to her conscience, that she does not know anything yet. So, we wanted to find out more, to lighten our hearts, let disappear the smoke and be completely eased ! And Sandrine let disappear our fears, by noticing that she is "still young", that is to say : plans for some further seasons.

This single precision would have been worth the whole journey, but the day would still prove to be full of satisfactions of all kinds, as we should find out soon. Not blessed with the clerical sacraments, but Sandrine's regards to the rest of the team Poirée & Friends (Karo and Anne), we now pay attention to the men's competition. We settle down at the edge of the track at an ascent, where a French patrol passed us 5 times which was completely unique, as it consisted of 3 biathletes, among them a "false one", and a cross-country skier, Vincent Vittoz. Under the guidance of the "chief of patrol", the shooting takes places, with the known result. This can happen even to the best !

This strategic place also brought us the occasion to speak to the present athletes and caretakers again, most of all as I wanted to know, how important those Military World Championships are. Since last November everybody is on the way. Are the Military WCh only a formality that passes by, without watching the results ? Christian Persicot, chief of the team : "Not at all ! It counts, too. The army employs the athletes and so we are interested to give them something back, by trying everything to let France look good at this international military competitions." And this mission was a lucky one : The EMHM (Military school of Haute-Montagne) can continue to wear proudly their black Béret.

After realizing Sandrine's "dietic-measures" ;-) in a wonderful, half bourgeois-half rustical, establishment in Realp, that was built in an ere, when architects still proved taste the hour of the women's patrol had stroken. Even more than at the men's race we could find big names on the list, who are normally located in the upper rankings of the World Cup : Wilhelm, Ponza, Bankovic, Henkel, Baverel-Robert … and we could see these athletes on the start, totally relaxed without cameras and microphones, near the spectators, in this surrounding, where you can hear even the bell of the church and the whistle of the conductor. All those things made the experience to something unreal, but wonderful.

Meanwhile the sun shines very string and the track which has been tortured by the rain in the night, but was still intact, due to the considerable height of snow of the winter in Uri, became now the softest of all, our heroines had ever skied on. As revenge it was the dream of every TV-director : on the beginning of the last descent the competitors were hidden, they re-appeared quickly behind a little hill and turned up, highly-armed, in front of the perfect blue sky to fulfil their work.

Those foothils were besieged in masses by the pool and the comrades, especially the female ones, of the French athletes. This big effort had its reason : France had to keep place 1 in overall standings. Because of that, this place was transformed into the "Alpe d'Huez" of the military sport. Urged and screamed on, not 4 persons belonged to the French formation, but maybe 8 or 12. And what efforts were made : Sandrine Hudry (cross-country skier) could approve our observation that the track was more similar to ruin, after being tortured by all armies of Europe (or nearly all), than anything else.

-The military facility of Andermatt-

But there was no help ! Corinne Niogret, who did not only register into the tables of sport history in a more than meritorious position, also enriched the vocabulary by declaring that such conditions are nothing for "draught-horses". But Tadeja Brankovic and her Slovenian comrades, who won, disclaimed it. But with their faultless shooting it was, of course, difficult to beat them. The German, 15 seconds before France, began their last lap with the intention to defend their colours and their 2nd place. They decided to do it before the last ascent. If ever any people doubted of the German abilities when it comes to finish a race : the methodical, synchronic, purposeful acceleration of the Thuringia-express and the big effort, especially under the guidance of Kati Wilhelm in person, said more than enough about the quality of those athletes.

But, as they know themselves, this 2nd place - some other nations would have been very pleased with ! - was nothing more than another defeat in their unsuccesful quest for a team victory that is lasting now for more than 1 year. Less spectacular, but nearly as well as the Germans, the French finish their race more than honourable. On the last loop they loose only 4 seconds. Above all one has to praise Kiki Gros and Annelise Bailly, who normally do not fight in the same category as the Valkyries from Oberhof and neighbourhood.

Still excited by this competition on the peak between the girls of the Ain and the girls of the Rhine, we would hardly get astonished to walk along with athletes such as Vincent Defrasne and Sandrine Bailly ! After changing some last words with those champions, whose courtesy and kindness should be mentioned once more, we got down to Andermatt, after changing our wet shoes, where the closing ceremony was planned. But before this we decided to have a rest with a beer and a talk about the happenings.

In the court of the barracks of Andermatt, with its proud façade, the band of the military school of Aarau presented the colourful, mild harmony of the Helvetian military marches. "Marignan", "Bellinzona" : the CISM seemed to have taken over de Coubertin's words : "Celebrating the Olympic Games is claiming oneself as a belonging to history". After this awakening of our senses, the nations marched in, with their flags in front. It was a big and strong moment, when the German biathletes stopped right before us (due to the alphabetical order) with Kati Wilhelm as porter of the flag. A role she knows by heart in the meantime !

-The whole French military team-

Apart from the landing of four para-gliders, the ceremony was rather boring, and consisted of a toilsome succession of speeches; but the thanks of the CISM-president to Helvetian hosts should be mentioned : Just like J.A. Samaranch always did, those Championships were "the best organised ones" ever ! But the moment every French was waiting for, was the declaration of France to the winner of the 48th International competitions and the playing of "La Marseillaise". The flag was hoisted on the mast in the centre and the spectators showed their respect by being silent when the national anthem was played.

Ovewhelmed by those aesthetic emotions and hurled to a cloud, maybe also a bit belittled by the height and the sun, it was time to say good-bye. It's not necessary to discuss about the conclusion of the day, as it was absolute clear : this day was completely perfect ! Super weather, great competitions and exceptional meetings. Yes, it was a day that we will for sure never forget !

Samuel Dougoud

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