Martin Fourcade has nothing to worry about, the tricolor biathlon has very good days ahead of it. This Sunday, Quentin Fillon Maillet even did even better than his illustrious elder by winning a 4th medal during the same Olympiad, gold please. With this golden charm, obtained on the pursuit, he even does better than any tricolor sportsman on the Winter Olympics. Simply historic. By beating the Norwegian Tarjei Boe and the Russian Eduard Latypov, “QFM” has written a wonderful page in the book of French sport.
Fillon Maillet tamed the wind
In absolutely terrible conditions due to strong gusts, the tricolor started the race behind Johannes Boe, who started in first position thanks to his victory in the sprint. The Norwegian managed a clear round on the first shooting range just like Fillon Maillet, then positioned about fifty seconds behind the Scandinavian, who was faster on skis. The first turning point comes during the second prone shot where Boe’s two errors allow the Frenchman, impeccable rifle in hand, to come back on his heels.
Insatiable, Quentin Fillon Maillet continues his faultless on the first standing shot and definitively distances the Norwegian, author of an ugly 2/5 and considerably hampered by the wind. Gusts that have not had the slightest impact on a confident QFM that no one seems able to stop in its quest for gold.
“These are dream games”
After the 4th and final firing point, mass is said. Fillon Maillet still does not tremble and signs an exceptional 20/20 in front of the targets. His new pursuer, the Russian Latypov, misses the point and here is the Jura player in an ideal position to win another gold medal in these Olympics, a few days after the individual. His passage over the finish line definitively consecrates the current leader of the World Cup who won the 10th tricolor medal in these Games.
The second Frenchman, Simon Desthieux, finished his pursuit in 7th position, two places ahead of Emilien Jacquelin (9th). But this Olympiad is definitely that of one man: Quentin Fillon Maillet. “It’s just incredible in these conditions. As they say, these are warrior conditions, at all times we end up with snow and wind, these are super difficult conditions and I am so proud to have done this 20/20 in shooting, to have makes my opponents doubt, especially Johannes. 4 medals in 4 races is exceptional, well beyond my expectations. I am so proud to be Olympic champion today, these are dream Games, ”savored the main interested party at the microphone of France TV.
An exceptional performance that Johannes Boe, his main rival and also double Olympic champion, wanted to salute during this edition: “It’s easy to say good things about him. He had a fantastic season and took his 2nd gold medal. I’m really impressed by what he’s achieved, but he’s above all a beautiful person, one of our best friends”. QFM, definitively dubbed by its peers.
And it’s not over
After this new golden day, Quentin Fillon Maillet will have other opportunities to write his legend on the men’s relay (Tuesday at 10 a.m.) then the mass start (Friday at 10 a.m.). “I’ll try to rest before Tuesday’s race but there is really something to look for with this stint,” he added. If this were the case, QFM would become the 3rd French athlete in history to win five medals during the same Games. Vertiginous.
