French ski star Pinturault Olympic hopes rekindled with extra berth / Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI - AFP/File
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French ski star Pinturault Olympic hopes rekindled with extra berth
Veteran French alpine skiing star Alexis Pinturault's hopes of competing in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics were rekindled on Monday with the news of an extra berth for France just hours after he failed to make the list of 160 athletes selected for the 2026 Games.
Back after two seasons plagued by injuries, the three-time Olympic medallist was not among the seven men selected for the French alpine skiing team, which included Olympic slalom champion Clement Noel and winter revelation Paco Rassat.
Due to a complex rule for allocating Olympic quotas among countries by the International Ski Federation, the French team only received seven places for their men and eight for the women.
But hours after the French team was unveiled for the Games which get underway on February 6 in Italy, it was announced they had received an additional berth.
"Following a reallocation, France has just obtained an additional quota spot in men's alpine skiing for the Milan Cortina Olympic Games," the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) said in a statement.
"This eighth quota spot will be allocated and announced on Wednesday evening, January 28, 2026."
This announcement gives renewed hope to several skiers, such as Pinturault, Victor Muffat-Jeandet, Thibaut Favrot, and Matthieu Bailet.
Pinturault has been a key member of the French team for over twelve years with 34 World Cup wins and three world championship titles.
"Alexis accepted the decision like the great champion he is," said David Chastan, head of alpine skiing at the French Ski Federation, after the team was announced.
"He did everything he could to try to make it to the Games, but he also respects the selection process. There are athletes who have achieved better results than him."
Pinturault had made the Olympics one of his main sources of motivation for not ending his career after two serious knee injuries.
"I was realistic about the fact that there's a lot to rebuild in a very short time," the 34-year-old said earlier this month.
"I don't think I have any special privileges; I think that, like everyone else, I have to show results."
Pinturault is scheduled to compete in the World Cup giant slalom in Schladming, Austria, on Tuesday having last won a race on the circuit in 2021.
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN