Martin Fourcade

Born on 14 September 1988 in the coastal French town Perpignan, Martin Fourcade is the second son of Gisele and Marcel Fourcade. Being the middle child, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother Simon Fourcade and chose a career in biathlon. He is also a non-commissioned officer. In 2002 Martin took up biathlon professionally. He started competing internationally in 2006. He competed for France in the Junior World Championships from 2007 and 2008. He won a bronze medal with the relay in 2007. His World Cup debut Fourcade made on 13 March 2008 in Oslo, Norway. That was his only appearance this season as he finished 61st. During the upcoming season in 2009, Martin grabbed his first World Cup points in Hochfilzen, Austria. He finished 36th in the individual race and 10th in the sprint. By the end of the season his name was listed on the 24th place in the overall World Cup as he finished 8th in the pursuit and 4th in the relay. 2010 was an Olympic year. The games took place in Vancouver. Martin took part in all races alongside his brother Simon. But his real success came when he won his first Olympic Silver medal in the mass start. That was also his first podium for a World Cup event. After the Olympics, the World Cup continued in Kontiolahti, Finland where Fourcade claimed his first victory in the pursuit. The season concluded in Holmenkollen, Norway where Martin won the sprint and the pursuit. He then won the first little crystal globe for the pursuit edging out the Austrian Simon Eder by just one point. The following 2010-2011 season opened in Östersund, Sweden where Fourcade took two 3rd places. Later he won the mass starts in Antholz (Anterselva), Italy and Fort Kent, USA. Those victories made him one of the favorites for the 2011 World Cup Championship in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia. The prognosis were positive as the championship proved the rising star that is Martin Fourcade. The Russian Championship was beyond successful. Martin nailed 3rd place for the French team in the mixed relay. Thanks to his phenomenal skiing from 5th, the team finished 3rd. Fourcade claimed the silver medal in the sprint after the winner, Arnd Peiffer from Germany. During the following pursuit Fourcade won the gold medal despite his three penalty rounds. The season finished as it follows: 3rd in the overall ranking, 4th in the sprint, 2nd in the pursuit, 3rd in the Individual and 2nd in the mass start. Another season begins, 2011-2012 with 2 individual wins in Östersund, Sweden. This is the first Martin is the leader in the overall World ranking. He finished 3rd in the sprint, alongside his brother Simon who took the 2nd place behind the winner Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. That day was historical as it marked for the first time two brothers stood up on the podium. So the dream finally comes true. In the pursuit Martin became second. Simon was 3rd but was downgraded to 4th place. The IBU ruled in favor of Germany's Arnd Peiffer who made an extra lap. The season ended with Martin Fourcade winning the big crystal globe and finishing as the leader in the overall World ranking. 2012-2013 season began with a 1st place in the individual race in Östersund, Sweden. As it began so it concluded with a massive domination of Martin Fourcade during the whole season. He won the big crystal globe for the second time. Just around the corner, 4 years passed after his first silver Olympic medal in Vancouver. He is ready and determined to win gold in the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. During the opening ceremony for the games, France came on stage led by Martin Fourcade who held high the national flag. It was proven that the Sochi Olympics were much more successful than those in Vancouver. Fourcade won 2 gold medals in the individual and the pursuit. He was going to win gold in the mass start as well. Only that he lost by an inch to Emil Hegle Svendsen. So he nailed the silver. The whole season 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 finished for Martin as he is the ultimate World Cup leader and won the big crystal globe for both seasons. That brings us to the total of 4 overral World titles in a row and making him the most successful and talented biathlete competing for France.