Interview with Vincent Naveau

Vincent Naveau is a young (born in 1984) biathlete from Belgium. He lives in Eupen near the German border and studies currently. For many years he's a big fan of Biathlon and some years ago he decided to change from Cross-country to Biathlon.

How could it happen that you as a Belgian began winter sports ? Belgium hasn't this amount of snow.
As a child my parents hijacked me into the Alps and there I fell in love with the mountains ! Back in Belgium I used every possibility to use the few days with snow completely.

… and then you started with cross-country ?
At first just as a hobby because here isn't a real structure. I had no care and I just did what I liked and the training belongs to it. Always having fun !

And when did it became seriously … so with a trainer ?
I still don't have a real trainer … before the season 2003/2004 I began to prepare more consequently, I informed myself, 4 days training in France, … I tried to give my best and organised my training. But I hadn't much experience and made a lot of mistakes (from which I've learned a lot), so that winter was bad although I had big, good will. From October I was ill and I didn't get positive into the winter.

Why did you change from cross-country to Biathlon ?
After I tortured myself in the summer that hard and the winter 2003/2004 was that bad, I was really unmotivated. But luckily there was one single positive experience in that winter : my first Biathlon race in Candanchu, Spain. Besides I've changed the club and I felt better supported. Last summer there was the offer to go to Estonia in July for 10 days of cross-country training camp. After the winter I wasn't very motivated. Before I went to Estonia I just had made a single tour to control if the material is ok.

To come back to your first race in Spain. How was it ?
In Spain it was all very, very fast … typical belgian ! It was a military competition and because I had free time I asked if I can go with them. We went to Spain on a Monday, Tuesday in the morning a bit theoretical introduction about shooting, in the afternoon my first training session and on the next day my first competition ! It was a 20km race and I said to myself at once that's what I want to do because for the very beginning I could've been very pleased with my shooting. Three days later we went to Gurnigel (CH) to the European Cup. Unfortunately the weather was very bad and we went home.

And you've never trained Biathlon and shooting before ?
No, except of once in Oberhof and some shoots at the training of the team, all in all maybe 70 shoots … well, and at the funfair. *g*

How good or bad are you supported in Belgium ? Are there Belgian fans ?
In the Biathlon we can't complain, of course the support could always be better, but compared to cross-country we're spoiled. Thanks Jos Volders (that's the trainer) and the other responsible persons. We're working on organise us better.
Our biggest fans are our parents. In Garmisch my parents saw for the first time a live-race ! It was pretty cool when my father went up the ascents and cheered at me !

What about sponsors and equipment ?
We don't have any sponsors, instantly I'm searching some. The sport store "Claessen Sport" supports me a bit. I'm searching for ski equipment, but that's not easy ! For the team we're searching a car and some other things. As in Belgium winter sport isn't very famous it's not easy to find sponsors. With soccer and biking it's much easier.

How many Belgians know that Biathlon exists and that also Belgians do this sport ?
I don't know, but slowly we're going to be known. After every competition we're trying to write an article for the newspaper to be present. It's difficult because the competitions are far away and the people don't get in contact directly with the sport. It's different if we've snow and a small cross-country competition; there comes newspaper, the radio, the TV. There's happening something !

How many Biathlon tracks exist in Belgium ?
Not a single ! The nearest is in the Sauerland (West Germany). But nevertheless we try to shoot a bit. It's to do a lot here !

Can you really train or is that just possible in training camps ?
Just training camps, last year we only went to Summer Biathlon European Championships that we could shoot a bit.

How many actives and coaches are there ? How big is your team ?
We are four active athletes plus one coach. And we've 3 or 4 adolescents who wait to start proper. Because of organisational reasons we couldn't integrate them this year. They were at Belgium Championships in Ruhpolding and could gather first experiences. Two of them have the luck to be in a camp of the IBU this summer. We hope that we can take them with us more often next winter.

Only male athletes or are there meanwhile some women ?
We'd like to have some with us, but unfortunately there are no women who want. But fortunately for us there are the female athletes from other nations … ;-)

Is it a problem to do sport and studies at once ? What do you want to do if your studies are finished ?
Last winter it was very good from the sight of sports, unfortunately I couldn't be that successful at the university and so I've to write tests yet. After the studies (or already during) I'll go to an area where snow is. Last November I was in Sweden and Norway and I liked it. But I also like the Alps and there are some acquaintances in Innsbruck … we'll see !

Are you pleased with your first Biathlon season ?
Yes, very ! I don't speak of reached aims, it was like a dream !

What were your aims before the season ?
Just look and see what Biathlon is. Then we went to Scandinavia … I couldn't believe it. Sweden, Norway, Biathlon, European Cup, compete against Poirée & Co, … that was just incredible ! One week later we went to Obertilliach, cold but wonderful. And we met some acquaintances from Estonia and a good feeling at competitions. 2 weeks later I went to Austria during Christmas - Stubaital training during holidays. I was in a good shape and at the following European Cup in Garmisch I reached the qualification for the World Cup.

How was it not to be only Biathlon fan, but athlete ? And also compete against these people who you admired in front of TV because of their achievements ?
Normally the people are very open-minded. But it's so that with all the preparations belonging to Biathlon there's no time left to think a lot. You do your thing, they theirs and then back to the hotel. Instantly I've more contact to athletes from other little nations and not so to the big nations. Maybe that'll change ! I get on really good with the Serbs and Marc Raymond from Australia. It's weird if I'm sitting here at home and watch World Cup or World Championships and see "friends". You just think "Shit ! I'm as good as he or even better and I've to sit here."

How were the Belgian championships ? As I know there weren't only Belgians and you were very successful. How was the atmosphere and all ?
Well, when I arrived I broke my brand-new ski at the first day. You can imagine how disappointed I was … but when I met Mark (Raymond) from Australia at the way to the wax-cabin (we were together in Norway) my days was nearly saved ! He came with his good mood and everything was alright. So, the atmosphere with the others was most of the time good. We were together with the Britain who made their championships, too and all was well organised. Otherwise the conditions were great; I was in a very good shape, at ski I was as good as the other Belgians who are usually a bit faster. And as coronation I could win a race.
The competitions were at end of January and since Christmas I was just 4 days in Belgium, which means I was much time on snow (in Belgium we had some snow before Christmas) and the shape was good.

What are your aims for next season ?
Compete in World Cup, European Cup and win a title at Belgian championships both in Biathlon and cross-country. In European Cup I've to reach my qualification for the upcoming year what shouldn't be a problem.

In which races will you compete in the winter ?
Like already said, some European - and World Cup races, races in Belgium if I'm there and maybe some FIS-races in cross-country. At Olympics it's impossible for us to compete ! At first there are the criterions of the IBU that means, I suppose TOP 30 of nations-ranking for one athlete (or better and more participants). That's possible. I suppose the Australiens reached it. But the criterions from Belgium are impossible. That's something like TOP 30 or 15 in World Cup !!!!!!! We've the same criterions like the Austrians but 100 times less snow.

What are you doing in summer ? Training camps, any races ?
In the summer I'll learn a lot and there's no camp planned. Maybe some days after my exams ...

Interview made by Anne Gassner (Summer 2005)

2005/2006

2006/2007