France Claims Biathlon Relay Gold, Slovakia Finishes in Top Ten at 2026 Winter Olympics
The French women’s biathlon team – Camille Bened, Lou Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon, and Julia Simon – secured gold in the 4x6km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sweden finished second (+51.3 seconds), and Norway took bronze (+1:07.6). The Slovakian quartet of Ema Kapustová, Paulína Bátovská Fialková, Anastasia Kuzminová, and Mária Remeňová achieved a commendable 10th-place finish (+3:40.8).
Early Race Dynamics and French Dominance
The race began strongly with a fast start from the German team, but a penalty lap during the fourth shooting stage dropped them down the rankings. Several unexpected nations, including Latvia, Bulgaria, and Belgium, held leading positions during the first half of the competition. Yet, the French team, consistently strong in the World Cup circuit, took control, establishing a significant lead through a combination of accurate shooting and fast skiing. The battle for the remaining podium spots involved Sweden, Norway, and the Czech Republic.
Bátovská Fialková’s Strong Performance
Ema Kapustová started for Slovakia, maintaining contact with the leading pack but facing a nearly 40-second deficit after three misses on the first shooting range. While she shot cleanly on her second attempt, the gap widened to over 70 seconds at the handover.
Paulína Bátovská Fialková significantly improved Slovakia’s position, reducing the deficit with only one penalty and then moving into 10th place after a flawless shooting stage.
Kuzminová’s Final Olympic Race and Slovakian Finish
Anastasia Kuzminová continued to hold hope for a top-ten finish, with only one penalty on her first shooting and a clean second stage. Remeňová maintained a strong pace, despite needing to reload three times on her first shooting, ultimately securing 10th place – a significant improvement from their 19th-place finish at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
German Struggles and Unexpected Contenders
The German team’s early promise was undone by a penalty lap, causing them to fall out of contention. The presence of nations like Latvia, Bulgaria, and Belgium among the leaders in the first half of the race highlighted the growing competitiveness in women’s biathlon.
ZOH Milano – Cortina 2026
The Winter Olympic Games in Italy are being held from February 6th to 22nd, 2026. Follow the performances of our athletes, live broadcasts and current results from the venues of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo directly on the STVR website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who won the gold medal in the women’s biathlon relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
A: France won the gold medal.
Q: What position did Slovakia finish in the women’s biathlon relay?
A: Slovakia finished in 10th place.
Q: Which athletes comprised the French winning team?
A: Camille Bened, Lou Jeanmonnot, Oceane Michelon, and Julia Simon.
