Cross-country skiing: “The craziest thing is the whole journey to get here”, Mathis Desloges tells Nordic Magazine
Mathis Desloges from Dauphiné made history in French cross-country skiing on Sunday. At just 23 years of age, he became the first Frenchman to win an individual Olympic medal in a distance race – only Roddy Darragon was on the individual podium in the sprint in Turin (Italy) in 2006 – when he took second place in the skiathlon at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Games.
Caught up in the media whirlwind of the Games, he took the time to talk to Nordic Magazine, 24 hours after winning his superb silver medal. He talks about his race, his emotions and this already historic moment.
- 24 hours later, do you fully realise what you achieved in this skiathlon?
It’s incredible, I still can’t believe it. I still haven’t landed, that’s for sure. You’re not prepared for all this. I don’t even know how you can prepare for it before you experience it. It’s an extraordinary thing, and it’s the fulfilment of so many things behind it. When you think about having a medal around your neck, it’s crazy. But what’s even crazier is the whole process of getting there.
“When I switch to second, I say to myself: ‘this is it, it’s possible’”.Mathis Desloges at Nordic Magazine
- From the outside, it looks like you’re managing your race perfectly.
Yes, clearly. The aim of my start was not to show myself too much, not to catch too much wind. I don’t like being in the middle of big pelotons. On the other hand, being behind small groups of 5 to 8 riders suits me just fine. I’m comfortable like that, and that was the objective for three quarters of the race.
- When you fall into second place at the top of the last climb, what goes through your mind at that moment?
It’s a lot of emotions. My aim was to get into the lead before the last climb and to start the climb at the front. I knew very well that [Johannes Hoesflot] Klaebo was very fit and very hard to beat in the final. At that point, I was mainly fighting for medals. When I come second, I say to myself: “This is it, it’s possible”.
- As you crossed the finishing line, who or what did you think of first?
To my family. To all the people I’ve known since I was a child and who have brought me to this point. But my parents, of course, I immediately thought of them. I can only say thank you to them.
- Before the skiathlon, you had to deal with a minor health problem…
Yes, I’ve had to adapt my training a bit in the last few days. There were doubts. I wasn’t bedridden, but there was a little illness. I’d say it was the little illness of fear.
“It wasn’t just me on the track: it was all the staff, all the technicians”.Mathis Desloges at Nordic Magazine
- How are you approaching the rest of the Games?
I’m giving myself two days [Monday and Tuesday] to recover and listen to how I feel. I’m starting to get to know myself. Then it’s back to the usual training to prepare for the individual skate on Friday and especially the relay on Sunday.
- This medal whets the appetite for what’s to come.
Yes, clearly. When you look at Hugo’s [Lapalus] race, I hope he’s got it in the back of his mind that it’s possible for him too. I really believe in his abilities and those of the whole French team. Yesterday, it wasn’t just me on the track: it was the whole staff, all the technicians. I’m the one wearing the medal, but we’re all in it together.
Read also
- Olympic Games 2026 | Cross-country skiing – “We were scared”, “we screamed”, then “exploded with joy”: Mathis Desloges’ Olympic silver sends Team Vercors Isère into raptures
- Olympic Games 2026 | Cross-country skiing – “Completely shattered”: Mathis Desloges’ silver medal was too emotional to resist
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing – “It’s just crazy”: the emotion of Mathis Desloges in silver in the skiathlon
- Olympic Games 2026 | “I wasn’t able to achieve the finish I wanted”: the frustration of Hugo Lapalus, fifth in the Olympic skiathlon
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing: Emmanuel Macron congratulates Mathis Desloges
- Olympic Games 2026 | Cross-country skiing: 15 minutes before his silver medal, the moment when Mathis Desloges could have lost everything in the skiathlon
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing: Mathis Desloges becomes the second Frenchman to win an individual Olympic medal, the first over distance
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing: Mathis Desloges wins a splendid silver medal in the skiathlon, a triumph for Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing – “It’s the event I’ve ticked off my list”: Mathis Desloges wants to make a big impact in the Olympic skiathlon
- 2026 Olympics | Cross-country skiing – “There are still pieces of it lying around in the snow”: the misadventure of Ebba Andersson, second in the skiathlon, with her medal
