Biathlon: Stéphane Bouthiaux debriefs the French team’s Olympic selection
Early this afternoon, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF ) announced the end of the French team’s selection for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
Joining Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin, Camille Bened, Océane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Julia Simon and Lou Jeanmonnot, who have already been guaranteed a place on the trip since 23 December, are Jeanne Richard, Emilien Claude and Oscar Lombardot.
From Nove Mesto (Czech Republic), Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, explains the staff’s choices to Nordic Magazine.
Jeanne Richard rather than Paula Botet to complete the women’s group
“As I’ve already said, selection for the Olympics is based solely on World Cup performances. It’s true that Paula [Botet] hasn’t had many World Cup races this year, but her performances are clearly below what Jeanne [Richard] has achieved. That’s what it came down to.
“We didn’t bring Paula [Botet] up last week in Ruhpolding simply because Jeanne [Richard] did well in Oberhof [12th in the sprint then 14th in the pursuit, editor’s note]. That was good enough for us, and much better than what Paula [Botet] had shown in Grand-Bornand at the previous World Cup [48th in the sprint then 32nd in the pursuit, editor’s note]”.
“There’s another thing. Jeanne [Richard] is on the verge of entering the top 15 overall in the World Cup, and you have to be there at the end of Nove Mesto to have a nominative place in the Olympic mass-start, within the limit of four of course. So she can get in. We’ll inevitably have to make some choices, but if one of the starters falls ill – even if nothing has yet been decided about who will be lined up for each race – she’ll be able to race. That may allow us to have a replacement on the mass-start, which wouldn’t necessarily be the case if she wasn’t there.
The obvious Oscar Lombardot as fifth man
“He’s been the fifth man in the French team for a while now. In Ruhpolding, he put in a great performance in the sprint, with a thirteenth place, and in the relay, which he won just before. Let’s not forget that he has done three World Cup relays in his life, finishing second once and first twice! Each time, he more than held his own, so he’s a luxury replacement for the relay. There weren’t even any discussions about his selection.
Biathlon | With Jeanne Richard, Oscar Lombardot and Emilien Claude, but without Paula Botet and Antonin Guigonnat: Stéphane Bouthiaux explains his Olympic selection
“For the last place, we based our decision on the fact that Emilien [Claude] had been better than Antonin [Guigonnat] the last time they met, particularly in the sprint, our benchmark race, at the IBU Cup in Arber [2nd place for the Vosgien, 8th for the Haut-Savoyard, editor’s note]. It’s true that Antonin [Guigonnat] has won several times in the IBU Cup, but that was in races with four shots and based on experience.
“Emilien [Claude] was sixth in Sunday’s pursuit in Ruhpolding and is going from strength to strength. He had some good results last year, including a podium in the World Cup. It’s not just the raw result that’s taken into account when making a decision.
“It has to be said, in particular, that the level of the IBU Cup is not the same as that of the World Cup because the density is lower. There are mostly young athletes in the making. It’s a transition: you don’t make a career on the IBU Cup! It’s undoubtedly complicated for him, but Antonin [Guigonnat] had his chance at the start of the season and he didn’t seize it to claim an Olympic selection. In any case, that’s the opinion of the whole staff, because the decision – like all the others – was taken collectively.
- The Frenchteam selection for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- Camille Bened on the list with the stars of the French team: the CNOSF announces its first selection for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina
- Early announcement, Camille Bened, Fabien Claude, final tickets up for grabs: Stéphane Bouthiaux, France team boss, explains the first Olympic selection.
- Jeanne Richard, Emilien Claude and Oscar Lombardot selected last: the list of Frenchmen selected for the 2026 Olympic Games is now complete
