20-for-20 with Frédérique Pérusse

In another 20-something-question, fill-in-the-blanks series, we checked in with the world-class U.S. and Canadian biathletes that will be competing at 2017 International Biathlon Union (IBU) Youth & Junior World Championships Feb. 22-28 in Osrblie (also known as Brezno-Osrblie), Slovakia.

Here’s 15-year-old Frédérique Pérusse, of Centre De Biathlon Myriam Bédard (the Myriam Bédard Biathlon Centre), who’s representing Canada at her first Youth Worlds. In her first two races of the championships, she’s placed 73rd in Friday’s 6-kilometer sprint and 77th in Wednesday’s 10 k individual.

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“My full name is Frédérique-Karia Pérusse, but you can call me Fred. I was born in Quebec City, raised in Levis and one thing you should know about my hometown is that it is really charming!

I started cross-country skiing when I was 11-ish and started biathlon when I was 9, thanks to my big sister, Marie-Maxime.

I currently train in Valcartier at the Myriam Bédard biathlon center.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me in school.

If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Ready Player One’ by Ernest Cline.

One of the things I’m most excited about Youth/Junior World Championships in Brezno-Orsblie is to get to see/meet biathletes from all around the globe!!

This will be my very first Youth/Junior World Championships, and this year, I’m competing as a youth. One race I’m especially targeting there is the 6 km sprint.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was to not let your personal life disturb your professional one, it’s no time to think about your problems on the range.

One of the best race memories I have is when I won the silver medal in the 6 km sprint at the 2016 biathlon nationals.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Dorothea Wierer for sure because she is such an inspiration and I look up to her.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a coach or something else that is related to sport.

I’m missing 6 weeks of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘Shit‘.

You can follow me on Instagram @fred_perusse.”