| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
| Olympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2004 | Athens, GRE | |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2007 | Fort William, GBR | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2006 | Rotorua, NZL | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2005 | Livigno, ITA | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2004 | Les Gets, FRA | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 2009 | Canberra, ACT, AUS | |
| 3 | Cross-country | 2011 | Champery, SUI | |
| 5 | Cross-country | 2010 | Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC, CAN | |
| European Championships | ||||
| 2 | Cross-country | 2011 | Dohnany, SVK | |
| 4 | Cross-country | 2012 | Moscow, RUS | |
| World Cup | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2012 | La Bresse, FRA | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2012 | Houffalize, BEL | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2011 | Offenburg, GER | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2010 | Offenburg, GER | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2009 | Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC, CAN | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2009 | Madrid, ESP | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2009 | Houffalize, BEL | |
| 1 | Cross-country | 2009 | Offenburg, GER | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 2011 | Dalby Forest, GBR | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 2011 | Pietermaritzburg, RSA | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 2010 | Val di Sole, ITA | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 2010 | Dalby Forest, GBR | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 2009 | Champery, SUI | |
| 2 | Cross-country | 2009 | Pietermaritzburg, RSA | |
| 3 | Cross-country | 2011 | Nove Mesto na Morave, CZE | |
| World Cup (Ranking) | ||||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2009 | ||
| 1 | Cross-country | 2008 | ||
| 2 | Cross-country | 2010 | ||
| 3 | Cross-country | 2011 | ||
Hobbies
Motor sports, motocross, skiing, snowboarding, karting and paragliding. (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Occupation
Athlete
Family
Wife Emilie, son Tom
Club name
Team Orbea / La Voge VTT
Coach
Ixio Barandiaran [team manager] (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Debut
1998 for France (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Injuries
In February 2012 he hit a tree during training, bruising his knee and fracturing his right thumb. (velovert.com, 17 Feb 2012)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
He got his first bike relatively late at age 13, and began riding mountain bikes in 1995 when a family friend took him for a ride in the forests near his home. (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Reason for taking up this sport
He was doing judo, but after trying mountain biking he focussed all his energy into the sport. "I knew straight away that this was the sport for me, but I never imagined I would make a career out of it." (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Ambitions
To become Olympic champion for a third time, at London 2012. (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning four consecutive world titles [between 2004 and 2007], crossing the finishing line to win his two Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008, and winning his 25th world cup victory in 2012 in front of a home crowd in France. (Cycling News 2007; absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Hero
"Luc Alphand, for the success of his conversion [from alpine skiing to motor racing]. He not only succeeded in his discipline but had the talent and intelligence to succeed in a second career." (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Do things for passion and pleasure." (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Awards
For his Olympic gold medals he has been awarded the Legion of Honour by the French president and has been made an Officer of the Order of National Merit. (legifrance.gouv.fr, 15 Nov 2008)
Named Male Mountainbiker of the Year for 2007. (Cycling News 2007)
General
VETERAN
London 2012 will be his third Olympic Games and he says he has worked intensively on his sprinting to match it with his younger competitors. "In 2008 I was the big favourite, the man to beat. In 2012 I'm not alone. The big favourite, you would have to say, will be Yaroslav Kulhavy or Nino Schurter. But that suits me, because it puts the pressure more on them." (melty.fr, 04 Jun 2012)
RIDING FOR HIS FATHER
After the death of his father in 2001 he considered ending his riding career, confiding in his wife-to-be Emilie that he would never ride his bike again. He followed the family's passion for wine by continuing to run their wine cellar, but was eventually drawn back to the sport. In 2004, as he crossed the finish line to win gold at the Athens Olympic Games, he pointed towards the sky in honour of his late father. (absalon-julien.com, 06 Jun 2012)
Previous Olympics
Beijing 2008, Athens 2004
