Mathis Desloges, double Olympic silver: "I dreamed day and night of being this strong"

Mathis Desloges, double Olympic silver: "I dreamed day and night of being this strong"

Formed also in biathlon, Mathis Desloges (23) opted for cross‑country skiing to avoid "going in circles" because of the shooting. He is now a two‑time Olympic silver medallist — and, according to specialists around him, it is only the beginning.

Where did this guy come from? In a sport widely regarded as the most physically demanding of the Winter Games, a young Frenchman has suddenly taken centre stage. Traditionally the big nations and the Scandinavian teams dominate distance races: on Friday, without Desloges, the Scandinavians would likely have swept the 10 km skate once again. Instead the French blue shone in the finish area and questions spread about how this 23‑year‑old rose so quickly to the top.

With this second silver in two events at his first Olympics, it is easy to forget he is a newcomer to the Games. Desloges laughed about struggling with English as cameras and international journalists approached him, and he admitted relief when a Canadian crew told him he could answer in French.

He was surprised by his performance — finishing less than five seconds behind the king Johannes Klæbo — after France celebrated an individual cross‑country medal for the first time in 20 years on Sunday. Desloges said he had dreamed "day and night" of being as strong as the greats and that being five seconds from the best skier ever was "just crazy" and the reward for countless hours of training and sacrifices.

Desloges trains year‑round at the biathlon stadium in Corrençon‑en‑Vercors. Last autumn he invited journalists to follow a session: a relaxed roller‑ski hour on one of his easier days, although his usual outings can be 100 kilometres and three‑hour forest sessions. He explained that as a child he did both biathlon and cross‑country at his club in Les Sept Laux (Isère) — the same club that produced Anaïs and Chloé Chevalier and Marie Dorin — but ultimately preferred long training days and being in nature to the shooting focus of biathlon.

He made the choice to concentrate on cross‑country after a breakthrough international weekend in Cogne (at the OPA Games), where he won the individual classic and realised he wanted to pursue the discipline. Champion of the U23 mass‑start (20 km) in 2024, Desloges has been identified as France’s new prospect: sixth in last season’s Trondheim world championships skiathlon hinted at his potential and areas to polish.

Coaches and teammates praise his maturity and hunger. "He knows how to make the right choices at the right moments," said Alexandre Rousselet, head of the French distance teams. Coach Thibaut Chêne noted his self‑awareness and determination: "He knows what he wants and where he's going. There is no fear, only overflowing desire." Former sprinter and staff member Renaud Jay added that Desloges dominated his junior years and continues to progress every season.

Émilien Jacquelin, who trains with Desloges and was competing in biathlon at Antholz, underlined the effort behind the results: "I don't think there is anyone in the French delegation who invested as much to perform these last two months. Many are discovering him but he works incredibly hard and keeps loving what he does. I feel he's really fired up for the 50 km (classic on 21 February)."

Before that, France will contest the relay (15 February), a race where the team always hopes for a medal. With Desloges opening a new path for French distance skiing, many dreams suddenly look within reach.

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