French ski racer Mathieu Faivre, also known as a friend of US superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, had to travel home early for disciplinary reasons from the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.
This was confirmed by David Chastan, head of the French alpine men’s team, AFP news agency. According to Chastan, the reason for the measure is Faivre’s comments after the giant slalom of the men on Sunday, who “are not compatible with the team spirit”.
The 26-year-old team world champion, who was also scheduled for the team competition in Pyeongchang, had reacted angrily to journalists’ questions after finishing in seventh place.
“If you only knew what I was thinking about the whole group,”said Faivre, adding:”I’m only driving for myself,” which is what the French have been sensitive to since the scandal of the French national football team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The French NOK is taking a tough line against athletes suspected of not representing France with pride.
In the giant slalom, the French had occupied places three (Alexis Pinturaut), five (Thomas Fanara), six (Victor Muffat-Jeandet) and seven. Faivre belonged to the French team that won gold at the 2017 World Championship in the team competition.