This Thursday, February 4, Perrine Laffont will compete in the Beijing Winter Olympics. The world queen of mogul skiing is calling into play her title obtained at the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018. But before this return to the Olympic slopes, the young Ariège native almost ended her career.
Under the spotlight since the age of eight, she participated in her first Games in 2014 in Sochi. She was only 15 years old and then began her career in the world championships. Four years later, here she is on the top step of the podium. At 19, Perrine Laffont wins a gold medal in Pyeongchang. The young girl cracks and burns out after fifteen competitions, going back and forth between competitions, her house, her high school.
A mental trainer to climb the slope
At his side since 2013, Cécilia Delage, mental trainer and sports psychologist, accompanied him during this period. “My role was really to let her express herself, to let her free herself from what she might be feeling and to accept that it’s normal for her to feel that way. What she saw was quite extraordinary“explains the mental trainer.
After fifteen competitions, “She had to take time to take a step back and assimilate everything she had been through in recent years” explains Cécilia Delage, who is currently accompanying her to Beijing.
After several weeks of mental work and rest without skiing, the young woman is back on skis. “She came back with the desire to have fun, to ski, to find the snow, remembers Cécilia Delage. The idea was to return to his pleasure. That’s the framework we’ve had since 2019.”
Perrine Laffont now has an exceptional record. She took part in 79 World Cup races for 24 victories. And will try to retain his Olympic title this week.