OLYMPICS: Biathlon-Jacquelin’s fire turns faltering French relay bid to gold

ANTERSELVA, Italy – France captured its first Olympic men’s relay title in biathlon after a thrilling final leg saw Eric Perrot fend off Norway’s Vetle Staastad Kristiansen to the finish line. The victory was a team effort, powered by Emilien Jacquelin’s remarkable comeback in the middle leg.

Jacquelin, starting second after a shaky performance left France in 13th place and over 50 seconds behind, raced with determination and speed. Wearing an earring lent by the family of Italian cycling legend Marco Pantani, he sliced through the field with fast and flowing skiing and shooting, handing over to Quentin Fillon Maillet in the lead.

“The Olympics are all about emotions, it’s not just about winning. You have stress, fear, but you have to go through these emotions,” Jacquelin said.

Perrot held Norway at bay in the anchor leg, securing the gold as Jacquelin cheered from the finish area, pointing skyward and urging the crowd to celebrate.

“These are my third Olympic Games. I was 22 at my first one in South Korea, and we finished fifth. Four years ago we finished second, which hadn’t happened since the Turin Games. But today it was win or hospital,” Jacquelin added.

He reflected on his approach during the relay: “Penalty laps can happen; it doesn’t mean the race is over. I looked at the gap — 50 seconds. A medal was within reach, so I focused on managing my effort. The last lap was difficult, but I went for it with panache, desire, and heart.”

France’s triumph is a testament to the team’s resilience and strategic racing, with Jacquelin’s performance at the heart of the comeback.

-Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters