Valentin Foubert, the quiet leader of French ski jumping at Milan‑Cortina 2026

This season Valentin Foubert has produced the best French result in nine years on the World Cup circuit.

At 23, the discreet, slender jumper from Courchevel is not looking for the spotlight. Trainer Nicolas Dessum says: “He doesn’t have a leader’s soul; he will first take care of what he has to do.” Yet Foubert heads the French team for the Olympic ski‑jumping events that begin Monday evening with the small hill (19:00).

Despite not being a medal favourite, Foubert has five top‑10s this season, including two top‑5s. That places him very high by recent French standards. Team‑mates Enzo Milesi and Jules Chervet travelled to Milan‑Cortina hoping to “make the top‑30”, which would qualify them for the final round.

Milesi acknowledges that seeing Foubert succeed has shown the rest of the team what is possible. Foubert himself tends to see the negative side: “My season shows it well. There are rises and falls. That’s the dark point. I lack confidence, of doing things at 100% rather than trying to reach 150%. I’m always looking for more,” he says.

Early in the season Dessum and Foubert made improving consistency a priority — and it has paid off. Foubert is capable of a 4th place in Klingenthal and, a week later, a 44th place in Switzerland. Currently 18th in the World Cup overall, his 5th place at Ruka in late November was the best French World Cup result in nine years and was followed by other confirmations.

Foubert admits he is not excited in the usual way ahead of his first Games: “I don’t know if I’m ‘hot’, I’m a bit sick,” he says simply. “But I’m getting better.” He refuses to set numeric goals: “I have zero expectations, no result objective. I just want to go full out without being afraid.” His practice jumps on Sunday — 5th, 12th and 8th — offered encouraging signs.

The French team’s Olympic program begins with the small hill competition, where Foubert will be the favourite among the French entrants to progress deepest into the contest and possibly challenge for a surprise top placing.