Émilien Jacquelin reveals anger at World Championships: - I just wanted to go home

Émilien Jacquelin reveals anger at World Championships: - I just wanted to go home

Émilien Jacquelin could smile after defeating the Norwegian biathletes in Nove Mesto. However, he admits to feeling a deep frustration—towards his own team.

The French star was disappointed after being left off the relay team for the World Championships in Lenzerheide. He refrained from speaking to the press right after the decision, but he has since opened up about the anger he felt.

"It was tough the last days at the World Championships, I wanted to race in the relay. I was really upset. But I understood why I was left out; it was important for me to compete. I was very angry, but when I accepted it and didn't allow it to affect my self-confidence, I had great people around me to help feel good," said Jacquelin.

In contrast, he ended up with teammates Emilien Claude, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, and Quentin Fillon Maillet who represented France in the relay. They finished second behind Norway.

Though he recognized their strengths, Jacquelin admitted he had lost some faith in the French team. "They are strong and executed a great relay, but I missed the win opportunity," he lamented.

NRK contacted French coach Simon Fourcade regarding Jacquelin’s exclusion from the lineup. He stood by the decision, stating, "If he needs to be angry to perform like he did, I’ll make him angry more often. He needs to understand the difference between being coach and a friend."

Jacquelin’s teammate Éric Perrot witnessed his frustrations firsthand: "Yes, it’s true. It was a tough experience. He was angry, but not at us. Just at the coaching decisions, and that’s sports. It’s good to see him come back strong."

Aside from Jacquelin, Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bø also managed to secure a place on the podium despite two mistakes in the prone stage during the sprint.

Jacquelin ultimately is confident that his place will be reinstated for the next relay. "I believe the staff will make the right choices going forward," he concluded.

NRK will broadcast the biathlon’s World Cup in Nove Mesto, with the next event being the sprint for Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and the other biathlete women.