Although the French quartet of Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Eric Perrot prevailed in today’s Milan/Cortina Men’s 4 X 7.5 km Relay, taking that coveted medal for the first time ever, it was an emotional roller coaster for much of the 1 hour and 19 minutes.

“I was angry to have one penalty”

Trouble started early when leadoff leg Fabien Claude used his three spares in standing and went to the penalty loop. Suddenly the pre-competition favorites found themselves in last position. Third leg Quentin Fillon Maillet admitted, “It was a lot of emotions. I was so angry to have one penalty, but you never know. Maybe if Fabien shot clean and we started in the lead and have too much emotion after because we would have been in front. But after the penalty, Fabien did a great job on the last loop (jumping to 13th).”

He praised second leg Emilien Jacquelin. “Emilin did a great job to get back in the lead. Maybe sometimes it’s easier to be hunting, compared to being the hunted. The most important thing was to win and that was what we did today. First Olympic Gold medal for the French team means a lot.”

Jacquelin, “Penalty loop is not the end of the world”

Jacquelin was confident in his comments to France 2 television. “I know this sport too well to think that in a relay, a penalty loop is the end of the world. There are four legs; it is a long race. There was time to recover 50 seconds; we were capable of that.” Jacquelin used emotions to his advantage to regain the lost time, telling Eurosport, “I ran with panache, with desire and heart. That is what allowed us to go get this medal.”

Anchor Suspense

Eric Perrot’s anchor leg kept the team in suspense, according to Fillon Maillet “A lot of emotion. We did not see anything until the middle of the last loop. We thought Vetle would come back and we would lose the victory. Then Eric came to the finish collapsing; he gave everything, to the limit for the French team; thank you Eric!”

“I think about collective emotion and success”

This Relay Gold medal made Fillon Maillet the most successful French Winter Olympic athlete of all time, surpassing Martin Fourcade. Yet, he modestly deferred to the team. “I do not think so much about it right now. I think about collective emotion and success, not on my success. I never thought when I was a small kid that would have eight A medals in the Olympics, totally crazy. I never think about records but the next chance. I am happy to be here.”

Thinking about the road that led to French biathlon’s historic day, Fillon Maillet added, “It’s amazing to live this moment. Thanks to Fabien, Emilien, Eric, the waxmen, coaches…everyone.”

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