Olympic champion Fabien Claude has embarked on a long-planned journey with his partner, Marie Fabregat, a trip they had been organizing for two years. The adventure, approved by his team, began in the Maldives, where the couple spent about 10 days and completed roughly 20 scuba dives. Their itinerary also includes stops in Indonesia and New Zealand.
“We are currently in Indonesia, staying until the end of May, then heading to New Zealand for a month and a half. I’ll start skiing there from mid-June, as winter begins. I’ll also have a bike. So, contrary to what some might think, this isn’t just about relaxing.”
“The idea is to break away from my usual preparation routine. I’m 31, and for 15 years I’ve followed the same spring training schedule. My girlfriend and I wanted this big trip. I needed to disrupt my normal rhythm, and after the Olympics, we felt it was the perfect moment to build a new, strong foundation. My goal is to perform at a high level in 2030, but I also want to be competitive this coming winter. I had to try something different.”
“I’ve organized everything well to start training. Even on the road, I’m doing specific physical conditioning sessions that I discussed last winter with Romain Jurto and Simon Fourcade. I also make time for exercises to strengthen my back and knee—my weak points.”
“You have to make choices and compromises. I couldn’t bring a rifle on the trip, so there will be no shooting practice until July. When I return, the goal isn’t to overcompensate and risk burnout, but to focus on other aspects. I’m particularly looking forward to talking with Siegfried [Maze] about the mental side and race strategy, especially in sprints. I think that’s where I have the most room for improvement. This decision also allowed me to order a new stock from Xavier Gente in Prémanon—he’ll have more time to craft it,” Claude told Nordic Magazine.
