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Quentin, what feeling predominates after this 4th place in the mass start?
Quentin Fillon-Maillet:
Just after the finish line, I admit there was a bit of bitterness.
You can imagine that I had the royal road to go for the gold on the last shot.
I saw Johannes Boe miss two targets and then the emotions caught up with me on that last shot.
It was windy, my legs were shaking… All that made my shooting very difficult, and I felt a bit bitter about it.
But you see, the race has been over for half an hour and I feel that this one is already starting to pass.
I get into my head that before the Games, I was hoping for two medals, including one in gold in the individual.
There, I finish with five medals in six races, which is way beyond what I hoped for.
It's just amazing.
I am so happy with what I was able to accomplish.
I'm going to bring in the heavy suitcase, and it's perfect
What will you mainly remember from these Games?
I showed what Martin (Fourcade) had already achieved in the past, namely that I was capable of playing both the general classification of the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
That's great.
It is perhaps even stronger than a gold medal to be among the best and to write the history of my sport.
When I was little, I dreamed of that, even more than of being an Olympic champion.
It makes me even prouder.
Winning a thirty-minute race is great.
But dominating since November and showing the whole world that I am one of the greats of this sport, I am so proud of it.
I'm going to bring in the heavy suitcase, and that's perfect.
Does the fact of having finished so close to the podium, in 4th place, leave you with more regrets than having finished 7th or 8th for example?
A 4th place at the Games, it's true that it counts less than at a World Cup.
At the Games, it's only the medalists that count.
But I remain proud of what I produced today.
I fought until the end.
I remember before the Games I was happy that the races here no longer count for the overall World Cup standings.
Finally, I would have liked because I would have made good points here (smile).
French medals at the Beijing Olympics
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Who is the king of these Games in biathlon?
(He hesitates) There is definitely a match with Johannes (Boe).
He has more gold medals thanks to the relays but on a strictly individual level, I think we share the crown.
Now, will you have to quickly refocus on the end of the season and the quest for the big crystal globe symbolizing the winner of the general classification of the World Cup?
Yes, I was worried about this mass start as I felt I had lost a lot of energy over the fortnight.
Because of you, the media, in quotes (smile).
But also cold.
Now I will find a way to recover from these Games quickly to come back strong.
Going for this big globe is my other big goal for the season and I apologize in advance to all my fans that I could have found in France next week, but I refused any request to focus on the end of the season.
The opportunity is too good.
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