Martin Fourcade, the most successful French Winter Olympian of all time, and 13 other biathletes have received reallocated Olympic medals from Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014.
On Sunday afternoon, a special ceremony at Milano Cortina 2026 celebrated the individuals who were denied their podium moment due to anti-doping rule violations.
Those involved received new medals after Russian biathlete Evgeny Ustyugov’s competitive results were disqualified from 2010 to 2014.
As seen in the picture below, six-time Olympic champion Martin Fourcade was awarded gold after his silver medal in the biathlon 15km mass start race at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics was upgraded.
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“It was my first podium at the time, my first medal, and it already felt like gold,” said Fourcade.
“Today, being able to celebrate it, both in an Olympic atmosphere and in one of the most iconic biathlon venues is also a special thing, considering the message this medal sends for the fight for clean sport, for justice being done, even if sometimes it takes too long.”
Slovak biathlete Pavol Hurajt joined him on the podium and received his silver, while the bronze was awarded to Austria's Christoph Sumann.
Away from the 15km mass start race and the German relay team of Erik Lesser, Daniel Boehm, Arnd Peiffer and Simon Schempp received their gold medals at the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena.
It comes after they missed out on gold at Sochi 2014, when Evgeny Ustyugov's Russian team won the biathlon men’s 4x7.5km relay.
Christoph Sumann, Daniel Mesotitsch, Simon Eder and Dominik Landertinger of Austria were awarded silver, while the bronze went to Norway's relay team of Tarjei Boe, Johannes Thingnes Boe, Ole Einar Bjorndalen and Emil Hegle Svendsen.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry presented the medals to all 14 biathletes alongside IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Emma Terho.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, IBU president Olle Dahlin expressed his delight at the event.
"Nothing can replace the podium moments these athletes missed in Vancouver and Sochi. But to be presented with their medals in front of nearly 20,000 passionate fans at Milan Cortina 2026 and the millions more watching at home honors their achievements and gives them their rightful moment on the world stage," he said.
"We made a promise that we would not stop fighting for clean athletes, and we are delighted that tomorrow the world will celebrate their place in Olympic history."
Olympians who received their medals in Anterselva
Vancouver 2010 – Biathlon, Men’s 15km Mass Start
- Gold: Martin Fourcade (FRA)
- Silver: Pavol Hurajt (SVK)
- Bronze: Christoph Sumann (AUT)
Sochi 2014 – Biathlon, Men’s 4x7.5km Relay
- Gold: Germany – Erik Lesser, Daniel Böhm, Arnd Peiffer, Simon Schempp
- Silver: Austria – Christoph Sumann, Daniel Mesotitsch, Simon Eder, Dominik Landertinger
- Bronze: Norway – Tarjei Bø, Johannes Bø, Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Emil Hegle Svendsen
Jack Kenmare