Quentin Fillon Maillet of France is lifted by staff after winning the men's 20-kilometer individual race at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb 8, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / AP)

France's Quentin Fillon Maillet won the men's 20-km individual biathlon on Tuesday, adding a gold medal to the silver he collected in the mixed relay over the weekend.

Despite missing two of 20 targets, Fillon Maillet won in 48 min 47.4 sec at the National Biathlon Centre in the Zhangjiakou competition zone. Anton Smolski of Belarus claimed silver with a clean record but 14.8 seconds adrift of Fillon Maillet. Defending champion Johannes Thingnes Boe of Norway took bronze.

"Maybe it looked easy, but it was so hard today. With two misses in the shooting, I never expected the victory－maybe the podium," Fillon Maillet said. "It's hard to relish the victory right now because the race is not finished, but I'm starting to feel the emotions of the victory. It was amazing."

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The victory of Quentin Fillon Maillet capped a dominant season for the French veteran, who sits atop this season's World Cup standings, and atoned for his disappointing performance at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games

The victory capped a dominant season for the French veteran, who sits atop this season's World Cup standings, and atoned for his disappointing performance at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

"Four years ago, it was so hard for me at the Olympic Games. I wanted to dream of an Olympics like this. We started very well with the mixed relay, and today (raced) in a good way for the victory," he said.

Boe and Russian skier Maxim Tsvetkov raced most of the course alongside each other, heading out with bibs No 1 and 2. However, Tsvetkov missed his very last shot and finished 34.9 seconds behind Fillon Maillet.

The race sees competitors race 20 km over five loops of the course, shooting twice in the prone position and twice standing between each lap. One minute is added for a miss, making shooting accuracy especially important.

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Boe was first over the finish line but two penalties dropped him to third, 31.1 seconds behind the winner.

"I did quite a good job with bib number two. I was early on the course, fighting, and on the range. I was well prepared mentally, and I had a good feeling during the race," he said.

Yan Xingyuan was the best Chinese finisher, in 39th place.