Emilien Jacquelin has always been known as an athlete who “marches to the beat of a different drummer,” enjoying his own brand of biathlon. Today’s Men’s Pursuit was Jacquelin at his best: bold, aggressive and emotional.

“How I did it is the most important thing”

He went for Gold, taking the lead, shooting fast, running out of energy, holding on for the Bronze. “I wanted to make my own race in the way I love to do biathlon. I made it, I am proud of myself, no matter the color of the medal; proud about how I did it is the most important thing.”

“Thinking about my grandmother”

Jacquelin’s Bronze medal today was filled with emotions, thinking about two people, his grandmother and cyclist Marco Pantani whose earring Jacquelin is wearing in these Games. “I was thinking about this earring and the trust given to me by the family of Marco Pantani. I really wanted today to make my own race I was thinking about my grandmother who passed away 3 months ago, just before the season. so many old people live alone and thanks to sports, they have joy. I think she would have been proud of me and how I did the race.”

It’s about emotion… for the crowd, public, myself”

The French star, also an accomplished photographer compared his effort to an art exhibition. “Every time I go to an exhibition, I think about how they had to fight to express themselves. Many people did not like Van Gogh when he was alive. When I shoot very fast, some people say I have to change my style if you want to be Olympic Champion. Maybe that is true, but in a way, I am still myself. It is how I like to manage races. It’s about emotion for the crowd, the public, for myself. I want to live these kinds of moments…Today could have been (a piece of art) if shooting was better. We can say it was a fun race, but not a piece of art!”

Last 100 meters, “Understood I had this medal”

Struggling on the last loop, Jacquelin’s mind went blank before thoughts of Pantani came to his mind. “I was so tired that I was not thinking about nothing during the last lap. Just the last 100 meters that I understood that I had this medal. I was thinking of him this morning. Yesterday was a special day for him and cycling fans; he passed away 22 years ago. My way of doing sports and biathlon was also about that.”

Stay tuned, Emilien Jacquelin will be back on the Olympic stage two more times in the coming days, filled with emotions, racing “in the way I love to do biathlon.”

Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Ola Wizor, Nordic Focus