Emilien Jacquelin discusses transition from biathlon to cycling

French biathlete Emilien Jacquelin has addressed the emotional moment during the 2025/2026 World Cup season in Oslo, where he was seen in tears during the flower ceremony. He revealed that at the time, he knew he was on the verge of a major career shift and feared it might have been his final biathlon race.

Jacquelin, a highly successful athlete with 38 podium finishes in top-tier competitions and two individual World Championship gold medals, has transitioned into professional cycling with the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team. While he has expressed a long-standing passion for cycling, his future in biathlon remains uncertain.

He stated that he will only return to biathlon if he can do so with 100% motivation and the drive to compete for titles, rather than simply participating. He has not yet decided if or when he will return to the sport, even with the 2030 Winter Olympics approaching in France.