Feb 22 • 12:20 UTC 🇫🇷 France Le Figaro

2026 Olympics: France finishes sixth in the medal table, narrowly surpassed by Germany

France finished sixth in the 2026 Olympic medal tally, just behind Germany, despite setting a record for the number of medals won.

In the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan-Cortina, the French team aimed for a top-five finish but ultimately ended up in sixth place, just behind Germany in the medal standings. Despite an impressive overall performance that saw the French delegation achieve a record total of 23 medals, including 8 golds, they fell short of their target. This was largely due to Germany's timely successes in events like the bobsleigh, where they secured crucial medals late in the competition.

The competition was particularly fierce, with Germany taking advantage of their strong performances, particularly in bobsleigh, to edge past France in the final rankings. Both countries ended with the same number of gold medals; however, Germany's additional silver medal provided them the necessary edge to claim the fifth spot. The significant contribution from French athletes in biathlon, where they won 13 medals—including 6 golds—was a highlight for the nation, bolstering their overall standing despite not reaching their ultimate goal.

As the Olympics conclude, the focus now turns to how the French delegation can build on this success in future competitions. The achievement of the highest medal count in a Winter Olympics by France is commendable, and it sets the stage for further developments in winter sports. Nevertheless, the dissatisfaction over not breaking into the top five will likely motivate the team to strive for better results in upcoming events.

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