The French men's biathlon relay team achieved silver at the World Championships held on February 22, 2025, at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, marking their twelfth medal of the event series. After dominating the World Cup with four consecutive victories this season, the team—comprised of Émilien Claude, Fabien Claude, Éric Perrot, and Quentin Fillon Maillet—was poised for gold. Instead, they found themselves outperformed by the formidable Norwegian squad, who completed the race 41.9 seconds faster.
The competition kicked off with Émilien Claude launching the French team's efforts. Claude, replacing Émilien Jacquelin due to previous performance issues, began strong by hitting all targets during the prone shooting but conceded one shot standing. He passed the baton to his brother, Fabien Claude, with the team trailing the leading Norway team by 12 seconds. Fabien faced challenges as he fell behind during his leg, compounded by difficulties at the shooting range.
Norway's veteran Tarjei Boe excelled, leveraging both speed on skis and accuracy at the range, distancing himself from Fabien. Boe's performance kept Norway firmly at the front, as fellow teammate Sturla Laegreid maintained the momentum for their team. The French struggled to catch up due to their shooting errors, registering seven compared to Norway’s four.
Éric Perrot entered the track hoping to close the gap, but his challenge against Laegreid was thwarted as he, too, couldn't outperform his Norwegian counterpart, leaving Quentin Fillon Maillet with little chance to recover the lost time.
Despite the silver medal, Perrot expressed pride in their effort, remarking, "C'est une médaille d'argent, mais il faut vraiment l'apprécier. Je suis vraiment fier du combat qu'on a mené. Chacun d'entre nous a perdu son duel face au Norvégien, donc ça prouve qu'on était un petit cran en-dessous," as reported by Franceinfo. The admiration for Norway’s impeccable execution during the race was apparent. Coach Jean-Pierre Amat had previously warned the team of the unpredictability of the race, reminding them, "On considère qu'on repart de zéro," underscoring the need to start fresh regardless of past victories.
Norway's Johannes Thingnes Boe, adding to his legacy, claimed his 23rd world title, completing the race unchallenged. His performance, alongside his brother Tarjei, who will also retire this season, marked a historic farewell for the Boe brothers at the World Championships.
Following the race, the French team reflected on their performance. Fabien Claude acknowledged their shortcomings but remained hopeful, stating, "Le travail a été fait. C’était vraiment un rêve aujourd’hui, cette saison j’ai été bon, j’ai su saisir ma chance." They finished second but continued to lead the tournament's overall medal tally with twelve medals accrued by the French delegation, including six golds, one silver, and five bronzes. With two mass-start events remaining, the team still has the opportunity to surpass their previous record of thirteen medals, set last year at Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.
Looking forward, the team is focused on seizing their chances for more podium finishes as they prepare for the final events. With their strong showing, the French biathletes' resilience and commitment to excellence continue to inspire, ensuring their presence remains significant on the world stage.