The French biathlon team further enriched its record on Saturday at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. Océane Michelon won silver and Lou Jeanmonnot took bronze in the sprint, dominated by the Norwegian Maren Kirkeeide. France now has 12 medals, including seven in biathlon.
Published on: 02/14/2026 - 4:16 p.m. Modified on: 02/14/2026 - 6:39 p.m.
Another great performance for the French biathlon team at the Winter Olympics. French biathlete Océane Michelon became Olympic vice-champion in the sprint (7.5 km), ahead of just over three seconds by Norwegian Maren Kirkeeide, the bronze medal going to another Frenchwoman, Lou Jeanmonnot, Saturday February 14 in Anterselva, Italy.
These are the sixth and seventh medals for French biathlon at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Before the second week of competition, the entire French delegation now has twelve medals, three units short of the record (15) established during the 2014 editions in Sochi (Russia) and 2018 in Pyeongchang (South Korea).
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After blanking her 10 targets on the shooting range, Océane Michelon began her final 2.5 km loop with a little more than nine seconds ahead of Maren Kirkeeide. The Norwegian then gradually closed her gap, then gained a lead of almost four seconds over the Frenchwoman at the finish line.
“I couldn’t dream of better”
Not selected to compete in the first individual race at the 2026 Olympics (Camille Bened was preferred to compete in the 15 km individual, taking 6th place), Océane Michelon won her first medal at the Olympics, her second individual in major championships after silver in the mass start a year ago at the worlds in Lenzerheide.
"I couldn't have dreamed of a better first Olympic race. It's just crazy. I was keen, beyond doing well, to do what I know how to do. I'm really happy to have achieved that and it's just a joy," explained the biathlete from the Bauges massif, after receiving her silver medal.
Read alsoOJ 2026: how French biathlon became so strong and so popular
Penalized by a mistake on her standing shot, Lou Jeanmonnot took 3rd place, thanks again to a very fast performance on skis (2nd best time, seven seconds behind Kirkeeide). She won her third medal at the 2026 Olympics after gold in the mixed relay associated with Éric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Julia Simon and silver in the individual behind Julia Simon.
"To be able to share this each time with someone, here today, Océane, it's really cool. It's good times. Even if I wasn't aiming for bronze today, I'm still enjoying it a lot because it's still an Olympic medal," Jeanmonnot appreciated.
With AFP
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