A legend goes away. Martin Fourcade announced on Friday that he would put away his skis and rifle at the end of the season, leaving the scene at the age of 31, boasting a prodigious track record that made him the most successful biathlete in history alongside the Norwegian Ole-Einar Bjoerndalen and a major figure in French sport.
While he remains in the fight with the Norwegian Johannes Boe for the gain of an 8th big crystal globe in a race from the end (pursuit on Saturday), Fourcade decided to cut the suspense and reveal his intentions to the eve of this great duel which will therefore also be the last of his immense career. History perhaps to release a weight before jumping into its final battle.
"It's time to say goodbye"
It was through a long press release that the Frenchman explained a decision which is not, strictly speaking, a surprise. “My desire to give the best of myself and to climb mountains is always present but the rest of my construction as a man, as a father, must now go through other paths, other supports of 'expression (...). It's time to say goodbye. Thank you for this trip, ”wrote Fourcade.
The five-time Olympic champion has known everything and won everything since his arrival on the circuit in 2007-2008 but the emergence of Boe changed the game and he felt that the time had come to pass the baton after having yielded his throne to the Norwegian two years ago. Everyone said he was lost and finished after a nightmare 2018-2109 exercise but he managed to resurface and it is obviously this last image that he wishes to leave when saying goodbye to biathlon.
Man of records
"These turbulences allowed me to grow even more," he explained. I had to experience this notion of resilience I had to experience this notion of resilience until I garnered, last month, two magnificent additional titles at the World Championships. Alone first and foremost with the French team. Bouncing back to get there, at these moments of shared happiness, was the biggest challenge of my career. I believe that this last mission has been accomplished. "
"I will try to lift the mountains, use this emotion but also put it aside (...) I can't wait to be there"
💬 Martin Fourcade on his last race tomorrow pic.twitter.com/G6zwt2G6Tf
Whatever Saturday's result, Fourcade hangs up, with an exceptional collection of trophies. The most successful French sportsman at the Olympic Games (5 gold medals), the man with 82 successes on the circuit has the record for the number of World Cups won (7 in a row from 2012 to 2018), small globes ( 26) and world titles (11 individually tied with Ole-Einar Bjoerndalen).
Already known post-career
Fourcade has become over the years a respected figure in French sport thanks to his friendly exploits, as well as to his strong positions, notably on the subject of doping. He was the standard-bearer of the tricolor delegation to the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018 before setting foot in the proceedings.
His post-career is already traced since he chairs the Athletes 'Commission of Paris-2024 and he applied for the IOC Athletes' Commission in 2022. “The passion I have for my sport is intact. My love for sport in general, and the values of transcendence and respect for others that it transmits, is greater than ever. It is in this universe that I want to continue to express myself, to invest myself, to share ”, he indicated.
- Sport
- Retirement
- Martin fourcade
- Biathlon