Five-time Olympic medalist in Beijing in 2022, Quentin Fillon Maillet is the favorite to represent France at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina as flag bearer. The main person concerned does not hide it.
This winter the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place in Milan-Cortina (February 6 to 22). As the big meeting approaches, a natural question arises and agitates the world of ice, who will represent the blue-white-red delegation during the opening ceremony? In view of his record and his results during the Olympiad in Beijing, Quentin Fillon Maillet is naturally a legitimate candidate. An eventuality for which the main party has already prepared.
“ I have already made good progress with my decision. I don’t want to make it public yet, because I’m waiting for some additional information. (…) For me, it would be a real honor to be a standard bearer. Very few have been in the history of the Olympic Games, and even fewer at the Winter Games,” QFM said at a press conference. “It has to fit perfectly into the schedule. I have to make sure that this will not hamper my performance. I think about it a lot: the decision is not simple,” he added, naturally giving priority to his preparation for the events in which he will participate.
Fillon Maillet: “I have already made good progress on my decision”
A worthy heir to Martin Fourcade (13 Olympic medals including 7 gold), Quentin Fillon Maillet could well succeed him, the last biathlete to carry the flag of the French delegation to the Winter Games. It was in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In January, we will know more about the identity of the lucky winners because the pair made up of a woman and a man will be chosen at the end ofa vote in which the athletes selected for Milan-Cortina will take part. Athletes wishing to apply must first inform their federation.
At the Beijing Winter Games in 2022, Quentin Fillon Maillet won the Olympic titles in the pursuit and individual. In the sprint as well as in the relays (men’s and mixed) the Jura native had won three silver medals, elevating him to the rank of big winner of this Olympiad.
