Why Olympic Choreographer Benoît Richaud Went Viral Just for Changing Jackets

Managing a global skating roster

Benoît Richaud is coaching 16 figure skaters from 13 different countries at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. This roster makes him one of the most visible figures at the rink despite never competing on the ice himself. Richaud has gained international attention for his habit of switching team jackets to match whichever athlete he is currently supporting in the "kiss and cry" area.

The French coach manages a workload that extends far beyond the skaters who successfully qualified for the 2026 Games. Richaud confirmed he actually coaches a much larger group of athletes throughout the year. His current Olympic lineup represents only the subset of his students who secured a spot in the competition.

Managing such a massive roster requires a rigid and predictable schedule. Richaud performs the majority of his choreography work immediately following the World Championships in March. He utilizes a "big window" from April until July to build new programs for his entire stable of athletes. During these four months, he establishes the artistic and technical foundations for the upcoming season.

Digital tools for remote choreography

Richaud relies heavily on modern communication technology to maintain his global coaching network. He cannot always be physically present with 16 different athletes scattered across the globe. He uses his smartphone to bridge the geographic gap between his home base and his skaters' training facilities.

The coach receives video files of his skaters’ programs every single day. This constant stream of data allows him to analyze performance metrics and artistic execution in real-time. He can identify specific areas for improvement and send feedback instantly to ensure the programs remain effective and competitive.

Technology has significantly accelerated the pace of high-level figure skating coaching. Richaud views these digital tools as essential for managing a roster of this size. The ability to review footage on a phone allows for a level of precision that was impossible in previous Olympic cycles.

The logistics of the jacket swap

The most recognizable aspect of Richaud’s Olympic presence is his frequent wardrobe changes. Because he represents 13 different nations, he must keep a collection of official team jackets nearby at all times. Viewers first noticed the trend when they saw the same slender, bald man sitting with different athletes in nearly every televised segment.

Richaud maintains a stoic and thoughtful expression regardless of which country he is currently representing. This consistency has made him a viral sensation on social media platforms. Fans have created compilations of his "omnipresence" as he moves from one national team to the next throughout the competition day.

The logistics of his day-to-day operations at the Olympics include:

• Memorizing 16 unique choreographic routines and their technical requirements
• Managing a rotating wardrobe of 13 different national team jackets
• Reviewing daily practice footage on a smartphone between live events
• Coordinating travel and warm-up times for athletes across multiple disciplines
• Navigating the "kiss and cry" area for nearly every major skating segment

Managing the Olympic emotional cycle

Coaching a massive volume of athletes forces Richaud to experience an intense emotional cycle. He describes these moments as "waves" of strong feelings that occur in rapid succession. The nature of the Olympics means that one of his students may succeed while another fails only minutes later.

During the 2026 Games, Richaud watched one of his skaters drop from a third-place position to finishing entirely off the podium. Shortly after, he watched a Canadian skater compete in his first Olympics and finish in fifth place. This athlete missed the podium by less than a single point despite having never skated at a World Championship before.

Richaud claims he does not have favorites among his 16 students. He gives each athlete 100 percent of his attention and emotional energy. The success of one skater often balances out the disappointment of another, which helps him maintain his professional focus.

Using viral trends to grow skating

Richaud did not expect to become a social media sensation during these Games. He initially found the viral videos of his jacket-swapping to be humorous. He now receives messages and clips from fans all over the world who have documented his constant presence at the rink.

The coach views this unexpected fame as an opportunity to market figure skating to a broader audience. He believes the sport lacks the necessary visibility on social media compared to other major athletic events. Richaud hopes his viral status will draw more people to what he considers one of the most beautiful sports in the world.

While his jacket-swapping started as a professional necessity, it has turned into a powerful promotional tool. Richaud remains committed to his athletes first, but he welcomes the attention his "antics" bring to the ice. He continues to monitor his students' progress daily, ensuring that every program is optimized for the highest possible score.