Biathlon: Quentin Fillon-Maillet is still affected by his non-selection for the mixed relay at the Lenzerheide World Championships
Late on Tuesday morning, Jura’s Quentin Fillon-Maillet, just back from the biathlon world championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), invited the press to a press conference to review his competition.
Winner of the mixed single relay, silver medallist in the men’s relay and also bronze medallist in the sprint and individual events, the Grandvallier returned from the canton of Grisons with a smile on his face. However, his World Championships had got off to a bad start, as he was not included in the opening mixed relay , which went on to win the gold medal.
Quentin Fillon-Maillet didn’t like the decision, criticising the staff’s choice in the mixed zone. Two weeks later, Nordic Magazine asked him if he regretted his outburst, which left a bitter taste in the mouth of his coach Simon Fourcade.
“The first person it left a bitter taste in my mouth was me, he replied. I also allowed myself to say a few things to them a few times [during the fortnight], telling them that I was holding my position even after the mixed relay. I was disappointed not to be lined up there. Of course, the coaches have a difficult choice to make. I spoke to them about it first, but expressing myself [on this subject] in front of the media shows that I want to be a player. I defend and present my arguments, and I always maintain that position. It wasn’t a media appearance that the coaches must have appreciated, but it’s a fact [that he’s a good relay player] and I was able to show that on the two relays I was subsequently lined up for. I also showed that I’m a very, very good French athlete in the individual races.”
“I’ve never turned down selection for a relay”
Quentin Fillon-Maillet also reiterated that his outburst was not aimed at his “team-mates in general, but rather at the coaches’ decision”.
“I’m very committed to this team format, and I’ve never turned down selection for a relay. Every time I’ve been offered it, I’ve accepted, he assures us. I could very well say that I’d rather not do a relay in December or January and concentrate on the individual races. I didn’t do it because I want to show my place in the team and I want to race in this format.”
The frustrated Franc-Comtois only got his competition off to a flying start with the sprint/chase combination, finishing with a bronze medal.
“This frustration is something that can help me, as it has in the past, but the motivation was there in any case. It’s not something I want to play on, as I told the coaches. I don’t want them to keep me out of a competition so that I can go and win things afterwards,” concluded Quentin Fillon-Maillet.
- Quentin Fillon-Maillet annoyed at being sidelined in the mixed relay at the world championships in Lenzerheide: “I thought I deserved more consideration from the staff”.
- “We decided to follow the sporting logic”: Stéphane Bouthiaux explains how the French mixed relay team for the World Championships in Lenzerheide was put together.
