Biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and marksmanship with a rifle at targets. Athletes who go in for biathlon must have good he alth and endurance, few endure the loads associated with constant training at sub-zero air temperatures. But Liv-Grete Poiret (maiden name Schelbraid) not only managed to overcome all difficulties, but also achieved amazing results in this sport. She has won several championship titles and brought her team many gold and silver medals, has several personal bests.
Childhood and youth
Liv-Grete was born on July 7, 1974 in an ordinary Norwegian family of farmers in a village near the city of Bergen. She was the youngest of three sisters. The girls - Ann-Helen, Linda-Christine and Liv-Grete - grew up very friendly, everyone was fond of sports. Liv played wellfootball, kayaking and skiing. A little later, Ann-Helene's older sister took her to biathlon.
The heroine of our article turned out to be a very capable and stubborn girl, and soon professionals noticed her and invited her to a sports school in Geilo. The young athlete, under the guidance of coach Odd Lierhus, quickly improved.
Fates are intertwined in an interesting way: Bjoerndalen, a rising biathlon star and lifelong sports rival of Liv's future husband, studied in the same class with her.
First Performance
At the age of 18, the girl performed for the first time at the World Championships, but unsuccessfully. It is worthy of respect that the defeat did not break the Norwegian, but only confirmed her desire to train hard and reach sports peaks. Which she did.
Achievements and awards
Liv-Grete Poiret has become a biathlon legend. Already in 1997, she achieved serious success: she became a three-time Norwegian champion, a world champion as part of the national team of her country and took a silver medal in the relay in Osrbli.
In 1998, at the Olympic Games, the athlete won bronze in the women's team and won four times in competitions in Norway. She finished this season in fifth place in the overall World Cup standings.
Zero year brought many trials to the biathlete: she was poisoned by stale chicken and became seriously ill. Doctors unanimously spoke about the need to end her career, but the girl overcame everything. Contrary to forecasts, the athlete won two gold medals at the World Championships inOslo, performing best in the mass start and sprint. In her interviews, the girl always says that the year 2000 left the best memories.
In 2002 biathlete Liv-Gret Poiret became twice second at the S alt Lake City Olympics. These silver medals are her main pride, considering strong opponents and weather conditions.
In the 2003-2004 season, the famous Norwegian extremely pleased her fans and coach, winning 7 high-profile victories at 9 World Cups.
The heroine of our article set a sports record in 2004 at the 39th Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof (Germany), becoming the first athlete in the history of biathlon to win 4 gold medals out of 5 possible.
In 2006, Liv-Grete Poiret officially announced her retirement from sports, following which she became the most titled biathlete in the world:
- two-time Olympic medalist;
- eight-time world champion;
- behind - 21 World Cup victories;
- 15 runners-up (silver) at World Cups;
- 9 times took third place (bronze medals) at the World Cup.
Love Story
The world of biathlon is small, and Liv Schelbrade often crossed paths with French athlete Rafael Poiret. As the girl recalls, he showed her signs of attention, invited her to dine, but she did not perceive this as sympathy. In 1996, at the championship in Ruhpolding, Germany, their mutual friend told Liv that Rafael was in love with her, and the athlete admitted that she had long beenwas interested in a handsome young man. Rafael and Liv began to meet, although they carefully concealed their romance from prying eyes.
For 4 whole years they tested their feelings, living under the same roof in a small one-room apartment in France, training together and making trips to competitions. And in May 2000, Raphael proposed to his beloved, and they got married in a church in the village where Liv grew up. Now she has become Liv-Grete Poiret.
Family
Young people lived together. After marriage, their life has not changed much - the same training, trips, competitions and traveling the world in their free time. They really wanted children, and soon their dream came true: in January 2003, the couple had a daughter, Emma.
Liv-Gret Poiret, whose personal life was in the foreground, completely plunged into motherhood. Raphael was always there and lent his shoulder in difficult times.
After retiring from sports in 2006, Liv became pregnant again, and in January 2007 gave birth to a second daughter, who was named Anna. Just a year later, in October 2008, another baby, Lena, was born in the family.
There seemed to be no end to happiness.
Loud divorce
From the outside, the family was exemplary: loving parents spent all their free time with their adored daughters, the couple organized their own business, they were seen everywhere together. And then, like a bolt from the blue, the news of the upcoming divorce struck. This news really shocked Liv's fans andRaphael, many even turned to them with a request to save the family, which in their eyes was the standard of happiness. Such appeals greatly upset Liv-Gret Poiret. She went through a divorce hard and still does not comment on this matter. For the sake of the children, the former spouses maintained friendly relations.
After breaking up in 2013, Rafael began dating Norwegian Anne Tunes, they recently announced their upcoming wedding. Tunes has three children from previous marriages.
More things to say
Liv-Gret Poiret, whose biography and achievements are described in detail in the article, is a very positive and friendly person. Maintains close ties with parents and sisters, enjoys talking with neighbors, has many friends. She only regrets that she has very little free time, because Liv works in two jobs: a biathlon expert and commentator on the Norwegian TV channel NRK and maintains a small hotel in her hometown.
When asked what is most important for her in life, she answers without hesitation: "I love my daughters madly!"
