Olympic Coach Benoît Richaud Coaches 16 Skaters From 13 Nations

Benoît Richaud has become the most recognizable face at the 2026 Winter Olympics without ever stepping onto the ice as a competitor. The French figure skating coach supports 16 Olympians from 13 different countries, changing into each nation's jacket every time one of his skaters performs.

Olympic viewers started noticing the same slender, bald man sitting beside different athletes in the "kiss and cry" area where skaters wait for their scores. His jacket kept changing, but his thoughtful, supportive expression stayed the same. Within days, his dedication went viral across social media.

Richaud says the 16 Olympians are just the ones who qualified. "I actually coach a lot more of them," he tells WIRED Italia.

Managing such a massive roster requires serious planning. He creates new choreography between April and July, then works with each skater individually to refine their programs. Sometimes they travel to him, sometimes he travels to them, and he uses video calls to make updates remotely.

"With the phone and new technologies, we can do much more and do it much faster," Richaud explains. "I get almost all of my skaters' programs every day, and this helps me understand what I need to improve."

The emotional challenges are intense. At these Games, one of his skaters dropped from third place to off the podium, while a Canadian first-time Olympian finished fifth, less than a point from a medal.

"You experience these waves of very strong emotions," he says. But being sad for one athlete and happy for another "balances your emotions."

Why This Inspires

Richaud gives 100 percent to every single skater, regardless of their country or medal chances. He rides an emotional roller coaster watching each performance, sometimes crying, sometimes barely containing his joy. "You experience these emotional peaks that we all experience, only I experience them very quickly," he says.

Despite being one of figure skating's most sought-after coaches, Richaud was largely unknown to the public until his jacket switches captured hearts worldwide. He's amazed by the attention but sees a bigger purpose.

"I saw the first video and thought, 'Ah, funny.' Then two, then three, then four," he says. People send him videos from all over the world now.

He's grateful the viral moment brings attention to figure skating, which he calls "one of the most beautiful sports in the world." His hope is simple: get more people to fall in love with the sport he dedicates his life to.

In a world that often emphasizes rivalry and nationalism, Richaud proves that success looks like lifting others up, no matter what flag they skate under.