Biathlon: Quentin Fillon-Maillet could declare his candidacy to become flag-bearer for Les Bleus at the 2026 Olympics
In February 2022, Quentin Fillon-Maillet had a historic Olympic Games at the Zhangjiakou stadium in China . A five-time medallist and twice crowned King of Olympus, the Jurassien is the ideal candidate to become the men’s flag-bearer for the French delegation at the opening ceremony of the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
Except that the Grandvallier has not yet made up his mind. I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he told Nordic Magazine on Wednesday afternoon during an online press briefing organised to coincide with the Font-Romeu training camp (Pyrénées-Orientales). The first criterion will be sporting. If it’s too tiring from an organisational point of view, I won’t apply. On the other hand, if the sporting aspect allows it, it would be something I’d love to do!
“I don’t want wearing the flag to affect my performance”.
The opening ceremony will take place on the evening of 6 February in Milan (Italy), less than 48 hours before the mixed relay to launch the biathlon events in Antholz (Italy).
I don’t want the fact that I’m wearing the flag to affect my [sporting] performance,” insists Quentin Fillon-Maillet. I’m going there first and foremost to win medals!
For the biathlete from Saint-Laurent-en-Gradvaux (Jura), it would be a source of great pride to lead the French delegation into the San Siro stadium.
“When I was a child, I dreamt of sporting success and performance. Carrying the flag and getting extra-sporting recognition are two different things,” he says. Carrying the flag, as I did at the closing ceremony in Beijing, was an immense honour, a great pleasure and a magnificent moment. It’s the same as receiving the Légion d’honneur or having a street named after me.
- Mixed pairs, previous Olympians, unveiling on 30 January: we know the process for appointing the French flag-bearers for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina.
- Beijing 2022: Quentin Fillon-Maillet to be French flag-bearer at the closing ceremony
- Beijing 2022: Quentin Fillon-Maillet’s pride after carrying the French flag
