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A Unique Journey to the Winter Olympics
With just six months until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Paul Mehdi Benhayoun is intensifying his training on the snow-covered slopes of the Alps. At 32, this French-Moroccan athlete is pursuing an extraordinary ambition: becoming the first African biathlete to compete in the Winter Games. His goal is to represent Morocco in a sport that remains largely unfamiliar across the continent.
Born in Reims to a French mother and a Moroccan father from Fez, Benhayoun grew up in Bezannes, a suburb of the Champagne capital. His early life did not hint at a future in snow or rifle shooting. Instead, he was passionate about tennis, which he played competitively during his youth. However, a pivotal moment came during his studies in Chambéry, where he discovered endurance sports at high altitudes, eventually leading him to cross-country skiing.
The idea of representing Morocco took root after watching the film Good Luck Algeria, a story about a French-Algerian athlete who chooses to compete for his father’s homeland. “I closed my laptop and thought, ‘That’s what I want to do—represent Morocco at the Olympic Games,'” Benhayoun recalls.
Initially, he focused on cross-country skiing, but a friend suggested he try biathlon. “He told me that while there had already been African athletes in cross-country skiing at the Olympics, there had never been one in biathlon. He encouraged me to give it a try,” Benhayoun says. “He was convinced that I could make history, for both Morocco and Africa.”
Driven by this vision, Benhayoun worked tirelessly. He met with the president of the Royal Moroccan Ski Federation and lobbied for its affiliation with the International Biathlon Union, a critical step that was achieved in June 2025.
On the slopes, his learning curve has been steep. Competing in races in France, the sport’s global stronghold, he often finishes far behind the leaders. However, he continues to push forward. “I used to tell myself I was up against guys who’d been doing this for 15 years,” he says. “But then I flipped the narrative. At 30, I have a self-awareness many younger athletes don’t.”
To catch up, Benhayoun built a small support team and secured his first financial backers. After a period in Switzerland, where he worked and saved money, he decided to commit fully to his dream. For the past year, he has dedicated himself entirely to training and competition. His goal is to claim one of the ten Olympic spots reserved for emerging nations in biathlon. “I knew I had to give myself every chance to achieve this dream.”
Benhayoun understands that the road ahead is narrow. Yet, he remains determined, driven by his unique journey, his Moroccan heritage, and a belief that has become his mantra: “If others can do it, why not me?”
