The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are showcasing a notable presence of athletes with Breton origins, representing both France and Italy across a diverse range of winter sports. Six athletes trace their roots to Brittany, competing in speed skating, skeleton, ice hockey, and figure skating. This participation underscores the region’s growing contribution to the world of winter athletics.
From Roller Rinks to Olympic Ice: A Breton Speed Skating Surge
A particularly compelling narrative emerging from this group centers around speed skating. Three Breton athletes – Mathieu Belloir, Germain Deschamps, and Giovanni Trebouta – are competing on the ice, all having transitioned from roller skating. This trend highlights the success of regional programs in leveraging skills developed in roller skating to excel in its winter counterpart.
Mathieu Belloir, a -year-old from Saint-Malo, exemplifies this pathway. He pursued his Olympic dream by switching from roller skating to ice speed skating. Belloir has already demonstrated competitive prowess, securing a silver medal in the French Championships and, crucially, earning an Olympic quota spot in the Mass Start event. His hometown of Saint-Malo is actively preparing to support him, transforming into a “fan zone” for the duration of the games, demonstrating the local excitement surrounding his participation. A video series documenting his journey to the games is available on his YouTube channel.
The transition from roller skating to ice speed skating isn’t a simple one. While the foundational skating skills are transferable, the differences in surface friction, blade design, and the demands of maintaining balance on ice require significant adaptation. The success of Belloir, Deschamps, and Trebouta suggests effective training methodologies and a supportive regional infrastructure are in place to facilitate this transition.
Hockey Hope and a Figure Skating Naturalization
Beyond speed skating, Brittany is represented in ice hockey by a -year-old forward on the French national team. This athlete’s journey is unique, balancing commitments between Chamonix, France, and studies/competition in the United States. She began playing hockey at the age of three in Megève and honed her skills with the Chamonix Rebels, achieving success at the youth level, including a Division 1B U18 World Championship title in where she was the top scorer for the French youth teams. Despite a preliminary Olympic loss against Italy, she is considered a key player for the future development of French women’s hockey.
The dual-location lifestyle of this hockey player – navigating studies and competition in the US alongside her national team commitments – speaks to the increasing globalization of athletic development. The ability to access high-level training and competitive opportunities in both countries likely contributes to her skill, and experience.
A notable case of international representation comes in figure skating. Charlène Guignard, originally from Finistère, is competing for Italy in her fourth Olympic appearance. She became naturalized as an Italian citizen in and now resides in Milan with her skating partner and companion, Marco Fabbri. Her story highlights the complex pathways athletes sometimes take, and the evolving nature of national team representation in international sports.
Brittany’s Expanding Role in Winter Sports
The presence of six Breton athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics is a testament to the region’s growing investment in and success within winter sports. The diversity of disciplines represented – from the speed and precision of speed skating and skeleton to the physicality of ice hockey and the artistry of figure skating – demonstrates a broad base of athletic talent.
The fact that several athletes have transitioned from roller skating to ice speed skating suggests a strategic approach to talent identification and development, leveraging existing skills and infrastructure. The support from local communities, as evidenced by Saint-Malo’s “fan zone” for Mathieu Belloir, further underscores the regional pride and commitment to these athletes.
While the long-term impact of this Breton contingent on the broader landscape of French and Italian winter sports remains to be seen, their participation in the Olympics represents a significant moment for the region and a promising sign for the future.
