Camille Mandrillon

Adjutant Camille Mandrillon played a prominent role in the opening ceremony of the 1924 Winter Olympics. After carrying the host nation's flag in the parade of nations, he spoke the athlete's oath. As a competitor, Mandrillon was active in the military patrol, a forerunner of biathlon that only had full Olympic status in 1924. Captaining a team composed of soldiers from the Jura ("Les Rousses") that also contained his brother Maurice, Mandrillon won a bronze medal for France. Four years later, the military patrol was again on the Olympic programme, but this time as a demonstration sport. Mandrillon again competed, but the French failed to finish the race.