Biathlon: first Olympic Games for England’s Jacques Jefferies
Over the last few days, 23-year-old Franco-British biathlete Jacques Jefferies has been on a training camp in Ridnaun-Val Ridanna (Italy) with his compatriot Shawna Pendry. Both will be taking part in their first Olympic Games under the guidance of Bornandine coach IrisPessey.
This Wednesday, they arrive at the Olympic venue in Antholz (Italy), the Anterselva Biathlon Arena.
It’s a great achievement,”the man who defended the French colours until last winter told Nordic Magazine . When I decided to change sporting nationality, my main objective for the year was to qualify for the Olympic Games. I knew it was possible, even if wild-cards in biathlon are harder to come by than in the FIS disciplines, for example.
His excellent sprint at Le Grand-Bornand paved the way for his Olympic career
Jacques Jefferies took a decisive step towards Olympic selection in December, when he made his first World Cup start in Le Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie).
We saw the list being updated after each weekend, so I knew I was well placed after the week in Le Grand-Bornand,” he explains. At the time, things had to go very badly for me not to go, but until it’s official and written down in black and white, you don’t want to believe it! After Ruhpolding, when I knew it was going to be good, I was finally really relaxed.
“The aim is to be at the start of the chase”.
For the 2022 world junior relay champion, this Olympic qualification is the fulfilment of a childhood dream.
“Even if we’re lucky in biathlon that the World Cups are hotly contested with enormous popular enthusiasm, competing in the Olympics is a different level! The eyes of the world are on us, and I’ve been watching the Olympics since I was a kid,” he explains. In fact, I went to Paris 2024 to see some of the events and it was a dream come true.
So this time, it’s as an actor, bib on his back, that Jacques Jefferies will be taking part in the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. And he’s got some big sporting ambitions in mind.
Of course, I’d like to enjoy myself first and foremost, but I also want to produce my best biathlon,” says the English biathlete based in Les Gets (Haute-Savoie), who had a difficult January after falling ill at Christmas. The aim is to start in the pursuit. I did it at Le Grand-Bornand, so I know I’ve got what it takes to be there. The big goal is to be in the top 40! That would be really cool and it would be a great Games for me.
The British biathlon squad for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
Men
- Jacques Jefferies 🇬🇧
Ladies
- Shawna Pendry 🇬🇧
The full biathlon programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
Sunday 8 February
- 2.05pm: 4×6 km mixed relay
Tuesday 10 February
- 13:30: Men’s 20 km individual
Wednesday 11 February
- 2.15pm: Women’s 15km individual
Friday 13 February
- 2pm: Men’s 10 km sprint
Saturday 14th February
- 2.45pm: women’s 7.5km sprint
Sunday 15 February
- 11.15am: Men’s 12.5km pursuit
- 2.45pm: women’s 10 km pursuit
Tuesday 17th February
- 2.30pm: Men’s 4×7.5 km relay
Wednesday 18 February
- 2.45pm: Women’s 4x6km relay
Friday 20 February
- 2.15pm: men’s 15km mass-start
Saturday 21 February
- 2.15pm: women’s 12.5 km mass-start
- Races, training sessions, shooting trials, ceremonies: the full programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- 2026 Olympic Games: the full biathlon programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- Anterselva Biathlon Arena: everything you need to know about the Antholz venue, which will host the biathlon events at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
- World Cup debut for Jacques Jefferies: British selection for the Grand-Bornand stage
- Number 1 in the Grand-Bornand sprint for his first World Cup, Franco-British Jacques Jefferies has hit the jackpot: “It’s going to be a crazy experience”.
- Jacques Jefferies tells Nordic Magazine about his sprint in Le Grand-Bornand, which was synonymous with his first World Cup start: “A crazy experience”.
- Great Britain: Shawna Pendry and Jacques Jefferies officially selected for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
