Today’s news
This is the first tricolor title of these Milan-Cortina 2026 Games! Favorites of the race, the mixed biathlon relay quartet composed of Éric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Julia Simon assumed their status in style.
The winning four gradually distanced themselves from their opponents, including the surprising Germany (3rd), as well as Italy (2nd), to win gold, eight years after the Pyeongchang Games (South Korea). The Blues, who hope to beat their record from the Beijing Games (7 medals including 3 gold), are ideally launching their harvest in Antholz-Anterselva.
The results of the French
Before the biathletes’ coronation, the day started very well for our Blues. In cross-country skiing, where we weren’t necessarily expecting them, the French shone. In the men’s skiathlon (10 km classic, 10 km free), Mathis Desloges won the silver medal. For his first Games, the 23-year-old cross-country skier managed to get between the legend Johannes Klaebo and Martin Nyenget at the finish. Well placed, Hugo Lapalus failed in 5th place.
On the other hand, the fall of Lindsey Vonn did not benefit the French women during the descent. Huge disappointment also for Timothy Loubineaud. The short-lived 5,000m world record holder failed in 5th place in speed skating on the Milan oval. Finally, the hockey players suffered a third defeat (0-4), logically, against Sweden, at the top of Group B.
L’image
It was a possibility, even if no one wanted to believe it. Nine days after tearing a cruciate ligament in her left knee, Lindsey Vonn fell heavily during the Olympic downhill. The public in the stands at Cortina d’Ampezzo station froze in front of the images of the star, on his back and grimacing, with his knees bent. The American’s cries of pain and despair will undoubtedly remain one of the sad images of these Winter Games. Helicoptered to a hospital to be placed in intensive care and operated on for a fracture, the 41-year-old skier saw her dream of winning the title disappear.
And also…
- The very demonstrative joy of Benjamin Karl. Winner of the snowboard parallel giant slalom, the 40-year-old Austrian offered a little striptease to the spectators after the finish.
- Breezy Johnson’s broken medal. The American skier, titled this Sunday noon in the premier event of the Olympics, saw her medal come loose from its cord, just a few minutes after her victory.
The sentence
And tomorrow?
This Monday, February 9, we will follow the very first men’s team alpine combined in the history of the Games (downhill at 10:30 a.m. and slalom at 2 p.m.). Several French pairs are at the start, including Clément Noël and Paco Rassat. The last match of the preliminary round of the Bleues ice hockey team will then follow. Already eliminated, Chloé Aurard-Bushee’s teammates will have the opportunity to finish their Olympic discovery in style against Germany (4:40 p.m.). In the evening, skaters Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry will be on the ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena for the rhythm dance event (7:20 p.m.).
