MILAN CORTINA, Italy – Anthony Chalençon delivered a surprise performance on Sunday, securing a bronze medal in the 20km cross-country skiing event at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. The result marks a significant achievement for the French delegation, bringing their total medal count to twelve – equaling their performance at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics.
Chalençon, guided by Florian Michelon, navigated a challenging course to claim the third spot on the podium. The duo’s success comes at the close of their Paralympic journey, representing their first podium finish at these Games and the final competition of their partnership. The American Jake Adicoff took gold, with Ukrainian Oleksandr Kazik earning silver.
The French team entered the day hoping to add to their medal tally, but Chalençon’s bronze was an unexpected boost. As the Games progress, France currently sits sixth in the medal standings, with the alpine skiing events still to come. This latest medal underscores the depth of talent within the French Paralympic team.
A Tense Finish on the 20km Course
The 20km freestyle event proved to be a closely contested race. Chalençon maintained a strong position throughout, holding third place at the midpoint of the course with a fifteen-second advantage. Though, the German Lennart Volkert began to close the gap, creating a tense battle for the bronze medal.
Chalençon demonstrated remarkable resilience, finishing strongly and extending his lead to eight seconds over Volkert. The victory was particularly sweet, coming in what was the final race of his Paralympic career. Adicoff, however, dominated the field, securing his fourth gold medal of the Games with a commanding performance.
A Career Capped by Paralympic Success
This bronze medal represents the fourth Paralympic medal of Anthony Chalençon’s career, but notably, it is his first individual medal in cross-country skiing. He previously contributed to relay medals – a gold in Pyeongchang 2018 and a silver in Beijing 2022 – alongside Benjamin Daviet.
Florian Michelon, Chalençon’s guide, is the cousin of biathlete Océane Michelon, who recently achieved Olympic success. The partnership between Chalençon and Michelon has proven fruitful, culminating in this memorable Paralympic bronze.
The conditions at Tesero, the venue for the Para Nordic skiing events, have presented challenges for technicians, with unusually high temperatures and the need to test 76 pairs of skis each morning, according to reports. Despite these difficulties, the French team has consistently delivered strong performances.
What’s Next for the French Team?
With the cross-country skiing events drawing to a close, the focus now shifts to the alpine skiing competitions. The French team will be looking to build on their current momentum and add to their medal count in the remaining events. The alpine skiing schedule begins on [Date to be verified – not in source], with events including downhill, slalom and giant slalom.
The Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina continue to showcase the incredible athleticism and determination of Para athletes from around the world. Anthony Chalençon’s bronze medal serves as an inspiring example of perseverance and dedication, capping off a remarkable career with a well-deserved Paralympic honor.
Fans can follow the remaining events and medal updates on the official Paralympic website: [Link to official Paralympic website – to be added upon verification].
Keep reading
