Biathlon: Emilien Jacquelin’s moving tribute to Marco Pantani
Twenty-two years after the death of Marco Pantani, the “Pirate” continues to inspire people beyond cycling. His mother, Tonina Belletti Pantani, 76, said she was deeply moved by the gesture made by French biathlete Emilien Jacquelin, gold and bronze medallist in Antholz (Italy). The Frenchman wore one of the Italian champion’s famous white gold earrings, lent by his family as a tribute to his childhood idol.
“I didn’t know him, but I liked his simplicity. He reminds me of Marco,” she told the Italian daily La Stampa. An admirer of the climber since he was three years old, Emilien Jacquelin has already visited the Spazio Pantani museum in Cesenatico. The ring was given to him by a mutual friend, Sergio Piumetto, who organises international competitions: “He took it here, took it to a jeweller to have it polished, then drove all the way to France – five hours to cover 60 kilometres in the snow – to give it to him in person. I was so happy. Last Sunday, Sergio came to Cesenatico for the mass in memory of Marco. We took a photo to send to Emilien and, just then, we were told that he had just won a medal. So we called him to congratulate him. It was a very moving moment.
The mother of the 1998 Tour winner, who was deeply moved, said that even without a medal, “he had already won” in her eyes. Still searching for the truth about her son’s death, she promises to continue the fight “as long as she lives”.
On 14 February 2004, Marco Pantani was found dead in a hotel room in Rimini, aged 34. The autopsy concluded that his heart had stopped as a result of acute cocaine intoxication. The Italian courts have repeatedly confirmed this theory, classifying the case as an accidental overdose, with no external intervention.
The meeting between Tonina Belletti Pantani and Emilien Jacquelin has already been scheduled. ” He’s promised me he’ll come to Cesenatico as soon as the season permits,” she confides with emotion.
