France Secures Historic First Men’s Biathlon Relay Gold at Milan-Cortina 2026

The French men’s biathlon team achieved a historic milestone on Tuesday, February 17, winning the gold medal in the relay event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This victory likewise propelled the French delegation to a record-breaking medal count during a Winter Games edition.

The team, comprised of Fabien Claude, Émilien Jacquelin, Quentin Fillon Maillet, and Eric Perrot, finished the race in 1 hour, 19 minutes, and 55.2 seconds Biathlonworld. They defeated defending Olympic champions Norway by 9.8 seconds, with Sweden taking bronze 57.6 seconds behind.

A Comeback Performance

The French team faced an early setback when Fabien Claude, the first leg runner, incurred a penalty lap on the shooting range. This left France in 13th position, 50 seconds behind the leading Norwegians.

Émilien Jacquelin then staged a remarkable comeback, demonstrating both speed on the skis and accuracy in shooting. He closed the gap and overtook the Norwegian team before handing off to Quentin Fillon Maillet, who maintained the French lead.

Perrot Anchors the Victory

Eric Perrot, as the final French runner, faced a close pursuit from Norway’s Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen for several kilometers. Yet, Perrot ultimately crossed the finish line alone, securing the gold medal for France Le Figaro.

Record-Breaking Medal Count for France

This Olympic title marks the ninth medal won by the French biathlon team at the Milan 2026 Games. More significantly, it brought the total medal count for the French delegation to 16, surpassing their previous record of 16 medals achieved at the Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, with five days of competition still remaining.

Other Events

Elsewhere at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the French ice hockey team was eliminated from contention after losing to Germany 5-1 in the play-offs Le Figaro. Several events were postponed due to heavy snowfall, including the women’s snowboard slopestyle competition and freestyle ski qualifications.