In a tense competition at the 2026 Olympics, French biathlete Émilien Jacquelin finished third in the pursuit event, narrowly missing out on gold. He led the race until the last shooting round, where he faltered slightly, allowing Swedish competitor Martin Ponsiluoma to take the win. Despite his podium finish representing his first solo Olympic medal, Jacquelin's near victory left a bittersweet taste, as he was so close to achieving gold.

Jacquelin's performance added to the pride of the French biathlon team, marking their eighth medal of the Games, although it was not the medal they had hoped for. His compatriot, Eric Perrot, also competed vigorously but finished just short of the podium in fourth place despite a strong shooting score of 19 out of 20. The pressure was high for the French team, especially following the earlier success of Quentin Fillon Maillet, who faced a disappointing seventh-place finish after a difficult shooting round.

This bronze medal contributes to a total of 13 medals for France at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, reinforcing the country's strong presence in Olympic biathlon while highlighting the intense competition among individual athletes. As the Games progress, French fans remain hopeful for more podiums, even as some athletes grapple with the pressures of high expectations and close finishes.