“It was easy to establish a climate of trust!”

After a difficult year for the French Nordic Combined team, Alex Mougin has been named coach alongside Etienne Gouy earlier this spring. Nordic Magazine spoke to the new man on the team (Find the French original version here).

Alex, Since this spring, you have been the new jumping coach of the Nordic combined team. You were then in charge junior group ladies in ski jumping before, after having completed your coaching education at the regional ski committee of the Massif Jura. How do you feel about this this new appointment?

Alex Mougin: It is certainly very nice to compete at the highest level because I like the competition. I had a good time with the girls and I did what I had to do but Nordic Combined is the sport I participated in when I was a bit younger. I know the athletes from competing with them.

You will be coaching together with team leader Etienne Gouy. How was the first contact with the athletes?

Mougin: It was pretty good. I knew the older members of the group, Laurent Muhlethaler and Antoine Gerard, before and so it was easy to establish a climate of trust which is important on the jumping hill. There is a good atmosphere and the group life is nice.

After a difficult year in terms of the team training, what will be your priority with a young team lead by Antoine Gerard?

Mougin: We know that success on the jumping hill is based on small specific technical points and a positive psychological approach. It will be important to regain confidence and regularity on the hill to stabilise the results. We exchange a lot with all the staff and everyone brings his special touch. Whether it's with girls or boys today, it's important for me to be lead by a head coach like Etienne Gouy who has a lot of experience on the highest level. It's also important to feel comfortable in the team to give your best.

Are athletes just waiting for more stability in coaching?

Mougin: When we talked about it, we felt that they would like to be more steady sportively speaking. Last year, they were a little bit fishing for regularity and so they are listening closely now. For the rest, no I did not feel that they are waiting for something.

What will be your recipe for promoting the youngest athletes to the World Cup level?

Mougin: A group progresses faster together. The elders will pull the younger ones and the young can push the older ones to excel in training. Having a group has an impact on the dynamics, the emulation and ultimately, on the results.

In a medium-term perspective, are the Beijing Olympics 2022 in your sights already?

Mougin: It can be a goal for me. I think that as long as we can bring the athletes up,  we get good results. I would like to go but if someone is better than me and can help the athletes achieve better results, he will take my place to accompany the team. But we will enjoy this year without World Championships to get our teeth into the World Cup first.