biathlete interview / Simon Desthieux
Baouw : 'Simon, tell us a little about your life (smile), starting with the beginning, your childhood?'
Simon Desthieux : 'I'm 28 years old, born in Belley, in the Ain region. I grew up in Hauteville, a biathlon stronghold. My older brother Baptiste was a biathlete and I always liked it, it made me dream: the shooting. The game. The fun of the sport. Baptiste showed me the way, and then came my time on the committee, doing national races, then my first selection for the World Championships, in the Junior version. All the way to the World Cup. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)'
Baouw : 'Hauteville is the temple of broken athletes and their rehabilitation. I hope you didn't have to go to the center?'
Simon Desthieux : 'I was spared, yes! I've had very few physical problems, by “luck”, if you can call it luck. I know myself well, I listen to myself a lot. I listen to my body's sensations. I don't push my body to break down. I protect it. I train as hard as I need to, but without ever breaking down or injuring myself. I hope it lasts!'
Baouw : 'Not injuring yourself allows you to make steady progress.'
Simon Desthieux : 'Yes, that's absolutely true. But to come back to Hauteville, for me, it doesn't evoke rehabilitation at all, but rather a temple of French biathlon. Sandrine Bailly (world champion, double Olympic medallist*), in particular, was a great inspiration to me at one point. When I was a kid, athletes often spoke at school, and that also inspired me. A lot of great biathletes come from Hauteville or the Retord plateau, so there's a real biathlon culture here.'
'Biathlon is a sport that forces you to constantly reinvent yourself. To renew yourself in order to progress. It requires a lot of commitment.'
Baouw : 'What does biathlon mean to you?'
Simon Desthieux : 'Today, I realize that it's a very complete sport. To be clear, when you're a kid, what attracts you most is shooting. But today, I can also see that it's a pure, beautiful sport. I've always been close to nature. So, from now on, what appeals to me most is this complicity, this union, of the two aspects of my sport: shooting and sliding outdoors.'
Baouw : 'That's what we at Baouw call the ‘Go out and play’ effect. Do you feel close to this philosophy?'
Simon Desthieux : 'Yes, I am! I've always been very close to nature. I grew up in the open air, close to the forest and wide open spaces. I love the simplicity of nature. The solitude, too. It's part of my identity. I practically live in the forest. I have chickens. I need that to feel good.'
Baouw : '“Tell us how you came to know Baouw and what you like about this adventure?'
Simon Desthieux : ' It was the Macsport store in Hauteville and Xav (our trail athlete Xavier Thévenard) who told me about you. I could see the Baouw brand evolving, little by little. I followed everything. I'm really happy to be at your side. I wanted to support your action.
'“I chose Baouw because its products are both simple and FAIR. Your organic energy products may look simple, but in reality, they've been developed in a very precise way, nutritionally, they've been developed for the body's performance.'
Simon Desthieux : 'Baouw products are natural. The 'local', French aspect is also very important to me. It's the ideal plan for me, given the way things are evolving. I want the world to move in the right direction. I like to showcase small boxes. There aren't that many of them. It's important to highlight the work done by companies like yours, which are not that numerous.'
With Baouw, I sometimes compensate for the lack of nutritional quality when we're abroad or on training courses. I use them especially after sessions, to recover properly. And, of course, on high-intensity rides. All the products are finely dosed. I really like them all, all the bars, all the purées. But if I really have to choose one of each, I'd say the purée Poire-Pomme-Menthe.
I have a sweet tooth, just like everyone else! For the past few years, I've been looking for partners who are like me, who share my values. I want partners who are like me. I prefer to make sacrifices in terms of money, if I have to, but I want authentic brands. Responsible. French.
I'm supported by the Ain department, by the Hauteville plateau. With Baouw, I remain consistent.
Baouw : 'When you called us, we were very touched by your approach. You told us that you wanted to put your small reputation at the service of brands like ours. But all we knew about you was what we saw at biathlon competitions, so we tried to find out more and came across the video of you making your own wooden rifle. We really liked it!'.
Simon Desthieux : (laughs) 'I've always liked to tinker. Wood or anything else. I learned that from my grandfather. I like making things in my workshop. I like doing things myself. Sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it fails. I like to learn.'
Baouw : 'With the retirement of Martin Fourcade (seven-time overall World Cup winner), do you think you'll be in the spotlight more? Does that change the game for you?'
Simon Desthieux : 'I'm here to grow through my sport. To blossom. I'm not into fame, TV or social networks. It's all virtual. I don't think much of it myself. Fulfillment is what biathlon is all about. Realize your potential. We've already played the leading roles with Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin, Fabien Claude... Having learned alongside Martin and Simon Fourcade. That's how the transition happened, naturally. '
'We have a well-functioning biathlon team. With Quentin Fillon-Maillet, etc., there are several of us up front. So we share the pressure with Martin (editor's note: Martin Fourcade, five-time Olympic biathlon champion). We weren't necessarily in his shadow, we didn't experience it like that. In biathlon, everyone has their place. Everyone has their share of light. Or whatever you want to call it.'
Baouw : 'Simplicity, naturalness, that's something that comes up a lot when you talk. How do you manage to keep it simple, with the media coverage of your sport, biathlon, so popular?'
Simon Desthieux : 'We're always out in nature. It keeps you grounded, believe me. Shooting always brings us back to basics. It always brings us back to who we are. Shooting is a reflection of our personality. It brings a certain modesty. Simplicity. If you look at yourself, you miss. It's as simple as that. That's what biathlon is all about. You can't cheat.' •
OUR NUTRITIONIST'S BIATHLON EXPERTISE
Our nutritionist and co-founder, Benoît Nave, was lucky enough to accompany the French biathlon team during the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. 'I was lucky enough to support top-level athletes such as Raphaël Poirée (mass-start world champion in 2001 and 2002, Olympic vice-champion and bronze medallist in Salt Lake), Sandrine Bailly, Corine Niogret (one of the most successful French women's athletes, gold medallist in the relay at the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games) and Vincent Defrasne. Working closely with such high-calibre athletes has given me incredible experience of exercise nutrition, how a sportsman's body functions and, of course, training, as I coach top-level athletes. A real life-size laboratory. I worked closely with Sylvie Becaert (vice Olympic champion, world champion) on her nutrition and physical preparation at a rather touchy time in her career. We did some great work on neurotransmitters and micronutrition, and I learned a lot from it.' Coach Benoit Nave's opinion of Simon Desthieux: 'He's a very discreet athlete, just like we like at Baouw. Just like his friend Xavier Thévenard. His humility is matched only by his talent! The proof is in his current top 6.'
'YOU HAVE TO CULTIVATE YOUR GARDEN' BIATHLETE SIMON DESTHIEUX
'I like to see things grow and evolve. My grandfathers always had big, beautiful vegetable gardens. I love that. And I love cooking the vegetables I grow. That's essential for me. I realize that today, in this world that's no longer running smoothly, our relationship with nature is something precious and vital. We need to pass it on to future generations. Sharing simple moments in nature, whether in sport or in the garden, feels good.'
Pear-Apple-Mint puree, Simon's favorite Baouw! A healthy, gourmet pleasure!
