MILAN CORTINA, Italy – As the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina enter their penultimate day of competition, all eyes turn to the biathlon mass start, where Quentin Fillon Maillet has the opportunity to further cement his place in French sporting history. The Frenchman is already the most decorated French Olympian in Winter Games history, and a strong showing in Friday’s event could add another chapter to his remarkable career. The mass start is scheduled for 2:15 PM local time at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
Fillon Maillet’s recent success at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games has been nothing short of spectacular. He secured a historic gold medal in the men’s relay on Tuesday, February 17th, becoming the first French athlete to win eight Olympic medals in Winter Games competition. This surpassed the previous record held by Martin Fourcade, who had seven medals to his name. The Olympic website details his achievement, highlighting the significance of this milestone for French winter sports.
The 31-year-old biathlete previously impressed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, claiming five medals, including two golds. His consistency this season has been remarkable, earning three medals in five races at the Antholz – Anterselva Biathlon Arena. “It’s incredible, eight Olympic medals, it’s well beyond the dreams I had when I was little,” Fillon Maillet said after the relay victory, as reported by Olympics.com. He now shares the record for most Olympic medals won by a French athlete, summer or winter, with fencers Philippe Cattiau and Roger Ducret, each with eight medals. Lequipe.fr reports that this ties him with Cattiau and Ducret for the overall French record.
A Busy Day of Competition
Beyond the biathlon, Friday promises a full slate of events for France. Marielle Berger Sabbatel will compete in the skicross finals at Livigno, Lombardy. Vincent Maharavo, a first-time Olympian, will aim for a podium finish in the ski acrobatic half-pipe qualification rounds, also held in Livigno. Meanwhile, Aurélie Lévêque and Cloé Ollivier will participate in the finals of the 1,500m short track speed skating event in Milan. The skicross events are set to begin at 10:00 AM local time, followed by the ski acrobatic half-pipe half an hour later. The speed skating finals will commence at 8:15 PM.
The action will be broadcast live on France Télévisions and Eurosport, allowing fans across the country to follow their athletes’ progress. Louis Chahuneau, Vincent Marcelin, and Célien Milioni-Brunet will be providing commentary from the “Chalet d’Austerlitz” throughout the day.
What’s at Stake for Fillon Maillet?
While Fillon Maillet has already achieved a historic feat, the mass start presents another opportunity to add to his medal tally. The mass start is a notoriously unpredictable event, with a large field of competitors and the potential for dramatic shifts in position. His teammates, Eric Perrot, Emilien Jacquelin, and Fabien Claude, will also be competing, adding to the French presence in the field. Sports.fr highlights the anticipation surrounding Fillon Maillet’s performance.
The French team has already secured 16 medals at the Milan-Cortina Games, surpassing their previous best of 15 medals achieved at Sochi in 2014 and Pyeongchang in 2018. With five gold medals already claimed, France is poised to finish among the top nations in the medal standings.
Following the conclusion of the mass start, the focus will shift to the remaining events and the overall medal count. The final days of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics promise to deliver more thrilling moments and unforgettable performances.
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