Audrey Gogniat, at the age of 21 the youngster in the Swiss shooting team, pulls off a coup. However, only outsiders are surprised by her Olympic medal win.
As soon as bronze was wrapped up, Nina Christen posted congratulations on Instagram. The congratulations come from the heart! After all, the Nidwalden native is very close to her successor - Nina Christen also won bronze in Tokyo three years ago with the air rifle. In shooting circles, Nina Christen is known as Audrey Gogniat's godmother. So the two are also sharing a room these days in Châteauroux.
The experienced shooter from Central Switzerland certainly gave the Olympic debutant in France a few crucial tips. As has often been the case in the course of the Jura native's still young career. "I can always go up to Nina and ask her something. But I don't drill her. I leave it up to her how and whether she wants to answer," said Audrey Gogniat about her "godmother" in the run-up to the Games.
Insiders have long been aware of the potential of the 21-year-old, who turned professional after high school, lives in Magglingen and trains in Biel. "She's mentally strong," emphasizes her coach Enrico Friedemann. "And when Audrey's going, she's going, then anything is possible."
A fire as a stroke of luck
Roland Gogniat, once a gifted marksman himself, sat in the audience as his daughter drilled shot after shot into the center of the target. "I've been training young marksmen and markswomen for forty years. And now my daughter, of all people, has scored the coup. Simply incredible," he emphasizes.
He wants to mention one piece of the puzzle on the road to success in particular. "In 2001, our shooting range in Saignelégier burned down. We had to fight hard to rebuild it. Without this fight, this bronze medal would not exist." Roland Gogniat also emphasizes the work of Head of Competitive Sports Daniel Burger. "He has introduced a system at Swiss Shooting that gives everyone the opportunity to develop and advance to the Olympic Games. I am convinced there will be more medals to come."
The aforementioned Daniel Burger, who has been Head of Elite Sport and Youth Development at the association since 2015, fought for a large air rifle hall to be built at the Biel performance center, for example, and not just for shooting to take place in the adjoining room. Seemingly a detail, but the sense of space is very important. In the very delicate sport of shooting, for example, it has an influence on balance.
The Fribourg native also praises Audrey Gogniat "as a hard worker". She really launched her career in 2019 and then "flew under the radar" due to coronavirus because she missed out on international competitions. "But we all saw that: Audrey has that certain something. She always goes one better."
