20-for-20 with Élise Sauvé

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

Here’s 16-year-old Élise Sauvé , of Foothills Nordic, who represented Canada at her first Youth Worlds. In two individual races, she finished 78th in the youth women’s 10 k individual and 86th in the 6 k sprint.

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“My full name is Élise Sauvé, but you can call me Ediddy. I was born in Calgary, Alberta, raised in Calgary, and one thing you should know about my hometown is the weather can never make up its mind.

I started cross-country skiing when I was 7 and started biathlon when I was 9, thanks to my parents and Jackrabbit coach who suggested that it might be something I would enjoy. I currently train in Calgary and Canmore with Foothills Nordic.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me reading, or outside doing something fun.

If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘The Book Thief‘.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Youth/Junior World Championships in Brezno-Osrblie is being able to compete in another country against the best from all around the world and to represent Canada.

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

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was don’t ever give up, every second counts and could make a difference between 1st and 2nd.

One of the best race memories I have is finishing one of my pursuit races in 2nd place behind my teammate when the whole time I thought I was in dead last.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Heikki Ikola.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be something that gets me outside and keeps me active.

I’m missing 12 days of school to be here, and my teachers/professors are probably thinking, ‘Have fun with that.’

You can follow me on Instagram @elisesauve.”