Acclaimed figure skating coach Benoit Richaud has received special dispensation to provide unprecedented support to his athletes participating in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. At this year’s Winter Olympics, Richaud is training an impressive 16 skaters representing 13 nations.
While a number of his athletes compete for his homeland France, other skaters under his guidance come from Germany, Georgia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, China, Switzerland, Italy, Bulgaria and Estonia. Richaud, admirably, plays no favourites amongst stars he mentors.
The 38-year-old switches outfits to correspond with the home nation of whichever athlete of his is currently performing, with online fans aptly dubbing him the « jacket guy. »
When circumstances permit, Richaud will dash back to change inside the skaters’ lounge between routines.
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However, if two of his skaters are competing consecutively, a team official will prepare the next jacket and help him into it straight after the first performance..
« It’s an organisation, it’s going to be fast, » Richaud told the BBC. « I usually put everything in the dressing room of the skater. Usually, I’m not allowed. But they let me put some stuff in there. They are very friendly.
« If not, we always have a team leader or the manager of the national team who keeps the jackets, and they give it to me. »
Whilst Richaud undoubtedly faces competing loyalties given the number of his skaters competing in Milan, the former junior figure skater revealed that donning each jacket helps him channel his support wholeheartedly towards each individual competitor.
« As soon as they step on the ice, I know they’re going to make something magical and boom, I’m in their world already, » Richaud told The Athletic. « Having them in front of me makes me reconnect to what they are going to do and switch emotions quickly.
« There’s a lot of video of me changing jackets, but I also move with my skaters, too. You want to give your everything for them. »
That said, Richaud is the first to acknowledge that managing such a vast spectrum of emotions is far from straightforward. « You have all these things you keep deep inside you, » he conceded.
« A few years ago I wasn’t used to this many conflicting emotions. I’d have a big moment and then go take a shower and start to cry without any reason.
« I realised it was a way to kind of make that emotion go away. It’s a process. I’m more used to it now, having this many skaters and these feelings. »
On the question of who he cheers for, Richaud was refreshingly candid: « I root for the best. I love all of them so much, and the one who performs the best will be the one on the podium. And that’s why I love this sport. »
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