French Coach Benoit Richaud Juggles Team Jackets at Winter Olympics
Viewers watching the figure skating on February 10 evening may have done a double take as French coach Benoit Richaud appeared rinkside wearing different national team jackets within minutes of each other.
The 38-year-old coach and choreographer is working with 16 skaters at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, representing 13 different countries. Seven of his athletes competed in the men’s short programme on February 10, although the official Olympic schedule listed him as coach for only four.
Quick Changes Between Competitors
Because he supports skaters from multiple nations competing in the same event, Richaud was seen swapping jackets to match each athlete’s country.
Among those officially listing him as coach were American Max Naumov and Canada’s Stephen Gogolev. However, France’s Adam Siao Him Fa and Georgia’s Nika Egadze skated consecutively in 25th and 26th positions, requiring Richaud to make a rapid wardrobe change.
Results were mixed, though Siao Him Fa currently sits third and remains in contention for a medal ahead of Friday’s free skate.
Emotional and Logistical Challenge
Richaud has become a familiar sight during the Games. During February 8 team event he was first spotted wearing Georgia’s jacket in support of Egadze and less than 15 minutes later appeared in Canada’s colours for Gogolev.
«It’s an organisation. It’s going to be fast,» Richaud told the BBC.
He described the experience as emotionally demanding, especially when performances vary in quality. «When you are with your skater, you are fully with them,» he said, explaining that shifting quickly between emotional highs and lows can be difficult.
The frequent outfit changes have not gone unnoticed. «People laugh because I’m always wearing black. And now everyone is like, how is it possible we see Benoit with different colours?» he said.
Behind the scenes, the process requires careful planning. Benoit Richaud explained that he usually stores jackets in skaters’ dressing rooms when permitted, or relies on team leaders and national managers to hold them so he can switch quickly between appearances.
Kursiv also reports that Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the Winter Olympics biathlon on February 10, stunned fans by admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend.
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