French biathletes on Tuesday claimed gold fo the first time in the 4 x 7.5km men's relay to smash the record medal haul at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Eric Perrot combined to win the delegation's fifth gold medal and the 16th overall.
They came in ahead of the Norwegians at the course in Antholz-Anterselva to notch up a ninth prize for the biathlon squad. Sweden finished with the bronze.
It was a third gold at the 2026 Games for Fillon-Maillet who has claimed top honours in the sprint as well as the mixed relay.
The latest success made him France's most decorated Winter Olympian with eight medals – five golds and three silvers from Games in Pyeonchang in South Korea in 2018 and Beijing four years ago. Martin Fourcade remains the most successful with six golds between 2010 and 2018.
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"The relay gold has always escaped the team," Jacquelin told Eurosport. "Since 2006 there have only been two siler medals. A page of history has been turned. Even if there have been athletes on the podium in other events, we haven't been at the top in this one."
As the biathletes revelled in their feats, the French men's ice hockey team slumped out of the tournament following a fourth defeat in four games.
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Germany beat them 5-1 in the play-off for a place in the last eight.
The game took place hours after French ice hockey federation and Olympic committee chiefs expelled defender Pierre Crinon from the Winter Olympics for provocative behaviour following his dismissal for fighting during Sunday night's game against Canada.
Crinon, who raised his hands to his ears as he left the rink on Sunday night, met top executives from the delegation on Monday.
"The purpose of the meeting was also to remind Crinon of the personal commitments he made when he was selected for the French Olympic team," said an FFHG spokesperson.
"The FFHG wishes to reiterate the values of any player wearing the French national team jersey and their duty to set an example, particularly during the Olympic Games."
