Winter Olympics 2026: why was Mathis Desloges’ silver medal the subject of a claim?

Mathis Desloges has a smile. Twenty years after Roddy Darragon’s last individual cross-country skiing medal at the Turin Games, the Tricolore climbed onto the second step of the podium this Sunday behind the untouchable Norwegian Johannes Høsflot Klaebo.

And his medal was a bit contested. A little over 13 km from the finish, Mathis Desloges cut one of the turns while he was in the group of five cross-country skiers. A small gap of no consequence since the Frenchman was first before making a mistake and keeping the lead.

During the race, he received a yellow card. As in football, the yellow is a warning which can become a definitive sanction, if given twice.

A complaint lodged unsuccessfully

Speaking to France Télévisions, the new Olympic medalist gave his feelings about his yellow card: “I didn’t see it. I passed in front on the straight and cut the corner too short. I didn’t think about it at all. It was a mistake on my part. It was not intentional. The yellow card is deserved, but it didn’t benefit me at all. »

Just after the race, a protest was filed to contest the French cross-country skier’s silver medal. The decision came a quarter of an hour later to confirm Mathis Desloges’ second place… And to win the first prize for the Blues in these Winter Olympic Games.