Mathis Desloges, the French skier who won a medal at the Olympics amidst controversy, has publicly apologized for breaking the rules during the competition. He clarified that his actions were not intentional, stating he made a mistake in the heat of the moment. Desloges altered his course after the first round of the free technique event, mistakenly cutting through the area between the race track and the ski exchange, which allowed him to gain a slight advantage of about one second. Despite the incident, he emphasized that he did not seek to gain an unfair benefit and expressed regret for the situation.

The competition's jury member, Mikko Rantanen, shared with Iltalehti that while Desloges did gain an advantage, the timing and nature of the infraction did not warrant disqualification based on the competition's regulations. Rantanen noted that the jury considered Desloges' perspective, concluding that the action was not premeditated and did not significantly alter the competition's outcomes. A protest was filed concerning the incident, but it was not accepted by the officials.

Desloges admitted to feeling apprehensive about the possibility of being disqualified but was relieved that the jury agreed that there was no intent to cheat. He chose not to discuss the protest further, indicating that it was a matter that has already been resolved in his mind. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about sportsmanship and adherence to regulations in competitive skiing, and it raises questions about how such situations are judged in future events.