Eric Perrot completed a rebound for France, anchoring his team to their first-ever Men’s 4 X 7.5 km Relay Olympic Gold medal this afternoon in 1:19:55.2. Emilien Jacquelin started the team’s return from 20th position, pulling back 50+ seconds in the second leg. In a driving snowstorm, Perrot completed the French team’s rebound, after taking over in a dead heat with rivals Norway and Sweden. Perrot and teammates Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin, and Quentin Fillon Maillet had a single penalty and nine spare rounds, defeating defending Olympic Champions Norway by 9.8 seconds.

“It’s about history for us”

Perrot crossed the finish line, collapsing, but was physically fine, and thrilled to take France’s first-ever Olympic Men’s Relay Gold medal, admitting, “I was so, so proud to take it for France; so many people behind us; happy to have it home now…I have dreamed about it (Relay gold medal) so many times. It is something else beyond an individual race. It’s about history for us, the team. It meant a lot to us. I don’t have many words to describe it. It means a lot for France.”

“About racing with passion and energy”

Although he led the whole last leg to claim the Gold medal for his team, Perrot was a bit disappointed with himself, but proud of the whole effort. “I am a little bit disappointed that I did not do better in the last shooting (2 spares), but it is all about today. It was not a perfect relay for us. But it doesn’t matter. It’s all about racing with passion and energy, giving it all. I am happy that I had this energy.”

Norway, with six spare rounds took the Silver medal. Sweden, also with six spare rounds won the Bronze medal, 57.6 seconds back. Two Olympic rookies, Norway’s Martin Uldal with Silver and Sweden’s leadoff leg Viktor Brandt with Bronze won their first-ever Olympic medals.

Germany with twelve spares, finished fourth, 1:48.3 back. USA, with eight spares, finished fifth, 2:27.4 back. Czechia, with ten spare rounds, finished sixth, 2:31.3 back.

Snowy Day; France Falters in First Leg

The twenty teams on the start today faced snowfall throughout the competition. After using two spares in prone, Norway’s Martin Uldal took the lead heading to the first exchange. France. Claude used spares in prone, completely melting down in standing, with a penalty, putting the eventual Gold medalists in 20th, last position, 46 seconds back.

Uldal tagged Johan-Olav Botn with a 15-second gap on the field. Claude passed seven teams in his final 2.5 km loop, tagging Jacquelin 50 seconds back in 13th position. Botn struggled to clean with spares in prone, ceding the lead to Germany. Jacquelin flew around the first loop, closing down almost all of the time lost on the first leg and cleaned, leaving 7 seconds back. By standing, Jacquelin was first, shooting fast, he left with a 9-second lead.

Jacquelin Leads

Jacquelin faded in the final loop, tagging Fillon Maillet first with Sweden third and Norway fifth. Fillon Maillet used spares in both of his stages but stayed close to the lead behind Ponsiluoma and Laegreid.

Perrot Seals Gold medal

Olympic Pursuit Gold medalist Ponsiluoma put on the afterburners on his last loop, but Fillon Maillet came back, tagging Perrot first, with Christiansen .5 seconds back and Samuelsson .9 seconds behind Perrot, setting up a spectacular anchor leg. The trio skied into prone together; Perrot taking 9 seconds on Christiansen after a spare and Samuelsson 20 seconds back. The Olympic rookie shot fast in standing, missing twice but reloading quickly, leaving 8 seconds ahead of Christiansen, sealing the Gold medal with Samuelsson trailing in the Bronze medal position.

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