Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 21:10 / Updated on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 21:11
France's men's 4×7.5km biathlon relay team of Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin, Quetin Fillon-Maillet and Eric Perrot won the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics, marking a historic first for the European nation in the event. Their success was driven by coach Simon Fourcade.
France produced a historic performance in the men's 4×7.5km biathlon relay at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, winning the gold medal ahead of Norway and Sweden after a dramatic finish.
The French quartet consisting of Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Eric Perrot crossed the finish line in 1:19:55.2resisting strong pressure from Norway.
scandinavian team, Olympic champion of the event in Beijing 2022won the silver with the time of 1:20:05.0finishing just 9.8 seconds behind. Sweden got the bronze in 1:20:52.7ticking off her first Olympic men's relay medal since 2018.
The victory marks France's first Olympic gold medal in the men's relay, a watershed moment for one of the sport's perennial contender nations. It is also France's 16th medal at Milan Cortina 2026, setting a new national record for the most medals ever won by the country at a single Winter Olympics.
Eric Perrot competing in the final leg of the 4×7.5km relay at the 2026 Olympics Photo: Guliver/GettyImages
The day also belonged to Fillon-Maillet, who captured the eighth Olympic medal of his career, becoming the most decorated French athlete in the history of the Winter Games.
Simon Fourcade, the coach who changed everything
The success is largely due to the coach Simon Fourcade (41 years old), world mixed relay champion at Pyeonchang 2009 and three-time WC medalist in the 4×7.5km relay event, two silver and one bronze plus a silver in the 20km individual.
He came to the head of the team three years ago in a different position, as a coach, learning day by day how to carry out his new activity with former teammates, friends, but also with young talents that he saw progress. “I was recruited into this role to bring results to an Olympic cycle that started without me“, Fourcade told l'Equipe.
former coaches, Vincent Vittoz and Patrick Favrein office after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, were dismissed and Simon took over the baton. “There was quality in the group, it just needed things to fall into place,” he told the source quoted in early February.
And the results were seen from the 2023-2024 season, when the French relay managed its first podium after 17 dry races. “I wanted to manage this group the same way I did with the juniors for training and fitness, neglecting the managerial aspect, although it is a very important one. I realized that I needed to adjust, correct and communicate well to be credible“, explained Simon Fourcade.
“He analyzes, adapts and is not afraid to be self-critical. He was aware of the transition he was in, he never felt superior to anyone else, but he has a work ethic that allows him to learn and progress”, stressed Claire Breton, Simon's colleague at the helm of the youth team between 2020 and 2023.
When you're involved, it's not just about the sport, it's what defines you. And Simon is incredibly dedicated – Martin Fourcade, six-time Olympic champion
Martin Fourcade: “He's incredibly dedicated. He lives and breathes for it”
Simon Fourcade (right) congratulating Emilien Jacquelin at the 2026 Olympics Photo: Imago Images
In 2025, Simon's team won all 4 World Cup relays and captured silver at the World Championships. This year they ticked off three 2nd places and won the competition before the start of the Games. Fourcade did not shy away from making some tough decisions. For example, he left Fillon Maillet out of the mixed relay at the 2025 Worlds, doing the same with Jaquelin for the relay a few days later.
“He knows he has to be fair with the athletes. To a certain extent, he is still an athlete, working to find his place. It's difficult to be a coach when you have to celebrate, as happened last Friday, Quentin's gold, but also take care of Emilien's tears, right next toMartin Fourcade also said.
“You have to know how to navigate through complex emotions. Simon is incredibly dedicated. He lives and breathes for it. He doesn't know how to do things other than with rigor and devotion“, emphasized Simon's younger and more medal-winning brother. And the results from Milano Cortina validate his method.
