Family Passion
When Nicolas Le Jeune started shooting in 2012, he followed a not only his older sister into the sport but continued a family tradition which was founded by his father. “I even went to the shooting grounds with them before I started shooting myself”, recalls Nicolas, “it was our typical family time.” He started with the disciplines Sporting and Compak but very quickly discoverd his passion for Olympic Skeet. “Step by step, the idea of winning a medal at the Olympic Games became the driving force and is my ultimate goal”, smiles Nicolas. His eyes are firmly set on Los Angeles.
To pursue that ambition, he joined the athletes’ team of the SNCF, the French national railway company. Around 30 athletes from various sports are part of this program which combines working for SNCF with extended opportunities to train and compete. When not training or competing, Nicolas can be found at train stations or SNCF construction sites where he works in SNCF’s security service.
For Nicolas, the fascination of shooting lies largely in the structure and rhythm it brings to life. “It’s about putting all the odds in your favor and doing everything possible to succeed.” Alongside his strong personal determination, he works closely with several coaches: a mental coach to support his psychological preparation for competitions, a physical coach from the French Shooting Federation, the coach of the French Olympic Skeet national team with whom he works during several training camps and international competitions, and his personal coach Anthony Terras. Terras also brings Olympic experience, having won a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
During competitions, Nicolas likes to chat with shooters who he already knows about everyday topics such as soccer or other sports. “It helps me to forget that I am actually in a high-stakes competition like a World Cup or European Championships”, says Nicolas, “because, let’s face it, the more stress you have, the more likely you are to make a mistake.”
Since the beginning of this year, Nicolas is shooting with a Blaser FBX. “It’s completely different from any shotgun I’ve used before – in terms of recoil and overall feel,” he admits. The new feeling was, however, a great one, because the very first time he shot with the FBX, Nicolas scored 75 out of 75. “It felt really great!” He had even more reason to be delighted, when he secured the second place at the International Grand Prix of Greece with an excellent performance (see pictures above).
But it is not only the shotgun he is excited about. “Signing with Blaser didn’t only give me outstanding equipment, it also opened up a new and exciting project: building the brand together in the Olympic disciplines and being at the forefront of the Olympic shooting scene!”. There is no doubt that Nicolas will take the project as far as possible.
Preparing for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles leaves little room for other pursuits such as hunting. Still, despite firing around 50,000 rounds a year, Nicolas occasionally joins his father and sister for a family hunt: “The opportunity to shoot what you eat later is too good to be missed.”
Blaser FBX shooter Nicolas Le Jeune has a clear goal: the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeless.
