Biathlon: a podium finish for Quentin Fillon-Maillet in the Östersund sprint
On Saturday afternoon, Quentin Fillon-Maillet from the Jura gave the French men’s biathlon team its first individual podium of the 2025/2026 season by taking third place in the sprint in Östersund (Sweden).
“When I announce my objectives, I talk about numbers, victories and the Olympic Games. Today [Saturday] isn’t a victory, but it’s almost one for me,” he explained during a videoconference attended by Nordic Magazine . I achieved 100% on both skis and shots, and that gives me satisfaction. If I’m able to do that as often as possible throughout the season, it’ll really be a more than successful season.
It has to be said that the biathlete from Saint-Laurent-en-Gradvaux (Jura) managed to handle his two runs on the mats masterfully, scoring 10/10. I wanted to get my shot right and do something really clean,” he admits. I feel I’ve turned a corner and that’s really important because it means I can approach the races with more confidence. I’m changing my cycle: I’ve missed enough shots on the recumbent over the last three seasons!
A major change in his shooting routine has enabled him to do this: “I used to approach shooting by breathing in, and now I’ve been trying for the last two days to apply a shot by breathing out, which brings more relaxation to the chest on the recumbent shot,” he says.
“I’m very satisfied with this race”.
This performance gives Quentin Fillon-Maillet peace of mind.
It’s a podium that means a lot to me,” explains the 32-year-old five-time Olympic medallist. Firstly because it’s at the start of the season and it always takes me a while to get going. This time, I’m happy to get going [right away]. My recumbent shot has been fragile in recent years, so it’s really important to be able to put things in place and find the keys. Finally, we’re in the Olympic season and any good opportunity is good to take.
It’s a colossal investment upstream throughout the preparation and I’m expecting a lot from the competitions, especially the first ones,” he concludes. The aim is to build up my confidence and validate everything I’ve done, so that I don’t feel like I’m blowing in the wind. I’m really pleased with this race.
On Sunday afternoon, Quentin Fillon-Maillet will be going all out for victory in the pursuit.
- The full programme for the Östersund World Cup, the first stage of the 2025/2026 season
- Caroline Colombo: my best memory of… Österusnd
- “When it performs, it creates momentum”: the relays on the opening weekend of the World Cup in Östersund, important events to get the French team on the right track
- Östersund: Jeanne Richard, Océane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot dominate the women’s relay, the first race of the winter season
- “It’s a great team effort”: on their first outing of the winter in Östersund, Les Bleues have already won the World Cup
- Östersund: France’s Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin and Eric Perrot second in the relay won by Norway
- “A good relay in tempo”: behind the Norwegians in the Östersund relay, the French get their winter off to a good start
- “There’s this desire to go for the greatest medal of all”: beaten by Norway in the first relay of the season, Les Bleus have their sights set on Olympic gold
- Östersund: Sweden win the mixed singles relay ahead of Norway, Fabien Claude and Camille Bened third for France
- “It’s important in a career”: Camille Bened takes her first World Cup relay podium finish in the mixed singles relay in Östersund
- “It’s wonderful to see her so happy and fulfilled”: former biathlete Chloé Bened reacts emotionally to her older sister Camille Bened’s first World Cup podium finish.
- Östersund: Emilien Jacquelin, Eric Perrot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot win the mixed relay for France
- Östersund World Cup: Corinne Niogret’s debrief (relays)
- Östersund: Dorothea Wierer triumphs in the individual event ahead of Sonja Leinamo and Camille Bened, who takes her first solo podium finish
- “It’s the fruit of a lot of hard work”: an emotional Camille Bened talks about her third place in the Östersund individual event
- Camille Bened as told by her first coach Martin Bouchet after her podium finish in Östersund: “She was already a great fighter who never gave up”.
- Östersund: Johan-Olav Botn takes his first World Cup win by winning the individual, Eric Perrot best Frenchman
- “I’m in seventh heaven”: Johan-Olav Botn, who was ill at the start of the week, ran the perfect race in Östersund.
- “We’re where we should be”: a tricky first individual race for the French team, far from the podium in Östersund
- Östersund: Océane Michelon third in the sprint, victory for Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen ahead of Anna Magnusson
- Östersund: winner of the sprint, Suvi Minkkinen takes the yellow bib as World Cup leader
- Suvi Minkkinen, winner of her first World Cup victory in the Östersund sprint: “It’s incredible”.
- “It’s a great day for me”: 993 days later, Anna Magnusson is back on a World Cup podium in Östersund.
- The pride of Océane Michelon, scorer of her first World Cup 10/10 to finish on the podium in the Östersund sprint: “I went all the way”.
