Biathlon: Emilien Jacquelin’s “Night Night” at Kontiolahti
On Sunday, in the half-light of a wintry afternoon in Kontiolahti (Finland), the French biathlon team lit up the World Cup. In the men’s relay, Les Bleus ran a race of the highest calibre, dominating the proceedings to claim their first victory on the world circuit for almost 4 years.
🇫🇷 Imperial French relay! Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Eric Perrot and Emilien "Steph Curry" Jacquelin dominate the proceedings in Kontiolahti to end Norway’s run of 12 straight victories in the #ChaletClub pic.twitter.com/OEdopFqg9y– Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) December 1, 2024
As he crossed the finish line alone, Emilien Jacquelin – who had failed a few minutes earlier to validate Les Bleus’ 40/40 shooting record – mistook himself for American basketball player Stephen Curry, performing his signature “Night Night” celebration. Not surprising, given the Dauphinois’ love and admiration for the NBA.
This iconic celebration, with both hands on the cheek and eyes closed, was first performed during the 2022 NBA play-offs. “The first time I did it was in Denver, the US superstar explained to the media outlet Boardroom in August of that year. It happened very quickly. We were energised by our return to the play-offs, which we’d missed for two years. I was excited to be back on that stage. I’d just come off the bench, so I was even more impatient, I had so much energy.”
An iconic celebration
The Golden State Warriors player, a four-time NBA champion, can’t really explain the genesis of ‘Night Night’.
“I don’t even know where it came from, he confirms. We were in the last quarter, in a tight game. I knew that if we won, we’d be 3-0 up and the series would be over, either in four or five games. In that last act, we made a stop and I said to myself, ‘We’ve got to put them to bed’. That’s what I told myself, not my team-mates or the crowd.”
“I put in that lay-up against Nikola Jokic and that’s when the idea came to make that sign. I wasn’t saying good night at the time. I was just thinking that the Nuggets needed to get some sleep. Then, in Game 5, I put in that lay-up in the last few seconds, which was officially a ‘you’ve got to put them to sleep’. The camera didn’t catch it, but I said it.”
Since 2022, Stephen Curry’s celebration has come a long way, and it was this celebration that brought the Bercy Arena to its feet during the money time of the final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Now recognised in the world of sport, “Night Night” made its appearance on the world biathlon circuit on Sunday 1 December 2024.
“Whenever I see someone do it, I smile because it reminds me of that playoff run and how powerful sport is,” said the American NBA 3-point shooting king. The story doesn’t say (yet?) whether he saw Emilien Jacquelin’s “Night Night”.
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