On International Women’s Day, British Biathlon celebrates Iris Pessey, our World Cup Head Coach whose leadership, athletic excellence, and relentless spirit embody everything this day stands for. Iris is not only shaping the future of British biathlon she is redefining what it means to lead by example.

A Life Built in the Mountains

Iris grew up in the French Alps, immersed in outdoor sport from childhood. She entered a specialist biathlon school at 14 and pursued elite skiing with fierce dedication before moving to the United States on an athletic scholarship at 23. Today, she lives a life that blends coaching, competition, and adventure.

Her background spans cross‑country skiing, biathlon, trail running, and skyrunning, with achievements that place her among the world’s most versatile mountain athletes. She has podiumed at the Skyrunning World Championships, won the Arctic Circle Race twice, and claimed multiple victories in vertical running and long‑distance ski marathons. 

In 2024, she added another major title to her name by winning the 40km MCC at UTMB one of the world’s most prestigious trail‑running events. 

A Summer of Extraordinary Achievement

While many coaches step back in the off‑season, Iris steps up. Her summers are filled with elite‑level competition across trail running and skyrunning circuits, where she consistently ranks among the best in the world. These achievements are not a side note they are a testament to the discipline, resilience, and athletic intelligence she brings to her coaching. Her athletes see first‑hand that she does not simply teach high performance; she lives it.

Training Before Dawn, Flying Off Mountains

During the winter, before the British athletes have even got their ski boots on, Iris is already out training running up mountains in the dark, often finishing her session by paragliding back down. This is not a story for effect; it is her daily reality. Her commitment to physical and mental excellence sets a tone that resonates across the entire team. She experiments on herself before she introduces anything to the athletes, constantly refining methods, testing ideas, and pushing her own limits to better understand theirs. 

A Coach Who Sees the Whole Athlete

What makes Iris exceptional is not only her athletic pedigree but her humanity. She brings empathy, humour, and a deep understanding of the pressures of elite sport. She knows what it feels like to chase performance, to manage setbacks, and to stand on a start line with everything on the line.

Her coaching blends technical precision with emotional intelligence. She creates an environment where athletes feel supported, challenged, and believed in, an environment where they can grow.

A Role Model for Women in High‑Performance Sport

Female coaches at the World Cup level remain rare, and Iris’s presence is both powerful and symbolic. She shows young women and girls that leadership in high‑performance sport is not only possible but essential. Her journey across continents, disciplines, and sporting cultures demonstrates that expertise, courage, and authenticity are what define a great coach.

Driving a New Era for British Biathlon

Iris is helping to build a culture of professionalism, ambition, and joy within British Biathlon. Her influence extends far beyond race days: she is shaping systems, nurturing confidence, and modelling what it means to pursue excellence with humility and heart.