A few days before the Winter Olympics in Beijing (from February 4 to 20), Martin Fourcade, the most successful French sportsman in the history of the Games, grants an interview to France Bleu Isère. He talks about his memories, the question of human rights, and the chances of French biathlon
Since his retirement, taken in March 2020 in a world turned upside down by the appearance of the coronavirus, Martin Fourcade is rarer in the media. A few days before the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, the five-time gold medalist at the Olympic Games answered questions from France Bleu Isère, to discuss the world of Olympism, in which he flourished, and in which he still wants to work.
His three appearances at the Olympics
Martin Fourcade took part in three editions of the Olympic Games, Vancouver in 2010, Sochi in 2014 and PyeongChang in 2018. Medalist each time, he has particularly strong memories of his first title, on the pursuit of Sochi in 2014: “My best memory is in Sochi and this first Olympic title which, emotionally, is an adrenaline bomb, it is something very strong and it is undoubtedly the strongest memory of my life. It was the ultimate goal. It’s the only one that’s missing when you’ve won everything, the only one that has made us dream since we were little. I really had this quest for the Olympic title in Sochi and to be able to win it. It brings up those kinds of emotions.”
“The strongest memory of my life” – Martin Fourcade on his first title in Sochi
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Olympism and human rights
In a few days, Martin Fourcade will be in China to participate in the election to the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee. The one who has won thirteen world titles during his career is one of seventeen candidates for two places. In this capacity, he takes a stand on the question of the relationship between human rights and major sports competitions, even though China is regularly singled out, even more so since the Peng Shuai affair, this tennis player who disappeared from the radars after accusing the former Chinese premier of rape: “We cannot dissociate a sporting competition from what comes first, which are human rights, which is respect for the environment. Then, I am to qualify my statement, we cannot make sport and athletes bear all the ills of society. Should athletes and sport speak out and express their expectations in the face of human rights issues in China? Yes of course.
“Always surprised that we ask athletes to boycott the Olympics in China while half of consumers buy an iPhone made in China!” – Martin Fourcade on calls for a boycott of the next Olympics by athletes
Then, the sportsmen, they do not have the duty to do it more than the citizens, the consumers. I’m always amused when I hear that athletes are asked to boycott the Olympic Games in China when half of consumers buy an iPhone that is made in China. There is always a kind of hypocrisy, it’s always easier to ask others to carry your convictions than to do it yourself. Today we buy wood, it comes from China, we buy steel, it comes from China, we buy electronic components, they come from China. In the economy, China is omnipresent. There is no reason that it should not also be in other sectors of activity and there is no reason that sport should be the only environment where we must carry values where, in economics, you can flout all rights.”
– Pierre Teyssot
The French team and the Beijing Olympics
From February 4 to 20 French biathlon could still bring back several Olympic medals. Carried by Martin Fourcade for years, the French team has overcome its champion long installed in the Vercors. France is still one of the best nations in the world, and among the favorites at the Olympics are Emilien Jacquelin, from Villard-de-Lans (Isère).
Martin Fourcade is very complimentary towards his friend, whom he sees going very far: ” He’s a real friend, it’s a nice meeting. We are almost ten years apart from Émilien, so he is an athlete that I discovered late in life. I met him for the first time in memory in 2018, a few months before the PyeongChang Olympic Games, when he joined the French team. Émilien is someone who is real, who is fresh, who has enormous potential and the stature to carry the French biathlon. He’s an extremely gifted shooter, and he has finishing qualities that I didn’t have either, a confidence in him in crucial moments. He’s someone who doubts a lot, but he’s someone who, when he’s in the money time, as we say in basketball, he’s not afraid of anything! »
“A huge potential and the stature to carry French biathlon” – Martin Fourcade about his friend Émilien Jacquelin
Qualities that Martin Fourcade hopes to appreciate during the two weeks of competition, or for once he will have no pressure, just the pleasure of seeing the French perpetuate the fine tradition of biathlon, a sport that his results have brought to one very strong notoriety in France.