Cross-country skiing: “The sporting hierarchy has clearly emerged”, says Olivier Michaud
On Tuesday, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) announced the first wave of French cross-country skiers selected for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. The head of the French national teams, Olivier Michaud, spoke to Nordic Magazine about the choices made and the rationale behind this initial list.
Among the men, seven cross-country skiers have been selected: Lucas Chanavat, Jules Chappaz, Richard Jouve, Mathis Desloges, Jules Lapierre, Hugo Lapalus and Théo Schely . On the other hand, Rémi Bourdin, Clément Parisse and Victor Lovera have been left out for the time being. This choice is a direct result of the performances seen on the international circuit in recent months.
“Clearly, the sporting hierarchy has taken shape. Olympic selection is based on the end of the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with choices guided by international results. For the boys, in terms of performances and ranking, things have happened very quickly: the hierarchy has imposed itself, without any real subtlety. […] The results and the places we can take, that’s what decides”.
A women’s selection still to be completed
In the women’s category, four cross-country skiers have so far qualified for the Olympics: Delphine Claudel, Julie Pierrel, Léonie Perry and Mélissa Gal. Two other places will be awarded at the end of the World Cup in Goms (Switzerland) this weekend. The Swiss event will not, however, be the sole criterion for the decision.
“The selection will be completed during the World Cup weekend in Goms, but it won’t be a one-shot deal. It will be a clever mix of analysis of the World Cup, the results from Goms and those from the European Cup [FESA Cup, editor’s note], in conjunction with the coaches and myself, to determine which athletes will complete the selection.”
Versatility, Olympic formats and the quest for medals
Beyond the raw rankings, the construction of the French team is based on a more global approach, dictated by the specific requirements of the Olympic formats. Versatility, complementarity and performance potential remain at the heart of the discussions, even if the sporting logic remains the priority.
“We favour athletes who are capable of going out and winning medals. When you’re among these specialists, those who are capable of playing up front are naturally given priority in the selection process. After that, there’s also a choice between distance and sprint, the ability to do team sprinting and to be part of a relay. We need to find athletes who are very strong in their speciality, but also capable of being versatile.
The French delegation could be further strengthened in the coming days, with the hope of an additional quota for both men and women.
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