The French team arrived in Hungary with three red bibs of world champions (Agbegnenou, Malonga and Marie-Eve Gahié in -70 kg) and left with only one.
By bringing back only two medals, it signs its worst record since the mid-1980s, when the competition became mixed. And the silver medal obtained in the mixed team event, as in 2018 and 2019, only makes it hardly less dull. “We are disappointed because there are a few girls that we would have liked to see on the box, even a few guys,” admitted Larbi Benboudaoud, director of high performance and boss of the Blues. “But it’s still a special world championship. Many athletes have their heads in the Olympics and we are also part of those teams which have not fielded only N.1 ”, added the former Olympic medalist.
Even if the general results are mixed, the Hungarian week confirmed that the sure values are on the side of women.
Agbegnenou, Malonga, the certainties
After a difficult year, marked by the postponement of the Olympics which she experienced particularly badly, Agbegnenou won a 5e world title with a lot of confidence and filled with confidence. Malonga for her part gave up her crown in the final and found that she had less margin than Agbegnenou, but for her, too, Olympic gold is a legitimate goal.
“They keep their rank. They wanted because they had the red bib and they have the Olympic title in their sights, ”confirmed Benboudaoud. “I am a little more disappointed for the others. Marie-Eve (Gahié, eliminated from entry), the red bib he had stayed at home, ”he added.
Among the youngest, Julia Tolofua passed very close to bronze in +78 kg, a very dense category among the French, but Shirine Boukli (-48 kg) did not manage to obtain the good result that would have brought her back among the seeds of the Olympic tournament.
Waiting for Riner
With a 5e place for Walide Khyar and two 7it is positions for the Olympic selected Alexandre Iddir and Kylian Le Blouch, the male record is much duller. “It’s pretty mixed for me. I have a little frustration on this record. It could have been much better but we will not regret it, we will see what there is to put in place for the future. We will have to work on the details for the two who are going to play the Games, to focus on what they lacked, ”summed up Christophe Gagliano, the male manager.
The staff had all the same chosen not to take risks with Guillaume Chaine (-73 kg) and Axel Clerget (-90 kg), injured and who will be in Tokyo with certain ambitions. And then, of course, there will be Teddy Riner. “We will close ranks next week, with just the Olympic selected. We will re-mobilize for what is “THE” objective, the Olympics, “warned Benboudaoud. “We will send a message on the state of mind, who dares wins. We will look ahead and there is nothing that is impossible ”.
Same message for Gagliano, who wants to leave behind “this world which was not extraordinary, far from it”. After these incongruous Worlds on the road to the Games, it is time to “switch to Tokyo 100%”.
SUNDAY Mixed team event: 1. Japan; 2. France; 3. Uzbekistan; Brazil.
