Harvest day for the Blues. The harvest has barely started, yet the French Olympic team added six new medals to its collection on Saturday July 31, including an Olympic title. The French total stands at 19 medals, including six coronations.
Judo: the triumph of the collective
The French mixed judo team was expected, it responded present. After a difficult entry against Israel in the quarter-finals (victory four fights to three on a final golden score of Margaux Pinot), she unfolded her judo until the Olympic title. 4-0 against the Netherlands in the semi-finals, then 4-1 in a controlled final against Japan.
In this final, Clarisse Agbégnénou, crowned in the -63 kg category, set the tone by dominating the Olympic champion in the -70 kg category, Chizuru Arai. Axel Clerget (-90 kg) chained the points after a long fight ended with the golden score. Behind, after the defeat of Romane Dicko (+70 kg), Teddy Riner and Sarah-Leonie Cysique sealed the French success.
Sarah-Léonie Cysique (-57 kg), Guillaume Chaine (-73 kg), Axel Clerget (-90 kg), Romane Dicko (+70 kg), Teddy Riner (+90 kg) won the first Olympic title in the discipline , the other members of the France team are also on the list.
RS: X windsurfing board: Charline Picon and Thomas Goyard get silver
French windsurfers are on the same page. Charline Picon and Thomas Goyard each won the silver medal in RS: X. Picon, defending champion, won the “medal race” (eleventh and last race) but was unable to catch up with China’s Yunxiu Lu (38 points against 36) over all of the heats.
For Thomas Goyard, the Olympic title was already locked by the Dutchman Kiran Badloe, who only had to finish the race to be crowned. But behind, the fight for the podium was tough. The Frenchman believed it was a fluke when he saw his Italian and Polish rivals being disqualified for an early start. But he finally suffered the same fate moments later.
The minutes then seemed very long to Goyard, under the threat of the Chinese Kun Bi and the Briton Tom Squires. Fourth in the “medal race”, the Chinese competitor was satisfied with the bronze for a small point. The Briton was missed, with a seventh place putting an end to his podium hopes.
Rugby 7: the Blue win the money
The French were dominated in the final by New Zealand (26-12) and must be content with a silver medal, however historic for French rugby, since it is the first in rugby sevens for the France. Les Bleues could not take their revenge for the 2018 World Cup, already lost to the New Zealanders.
Athletics: Lavillenie in the final, Vicaut in the half, Robert-Michon and Lamote at home
Various fortunes for the Tricolores in athletics. Renaud Lavillenie took some time to get going, with two missed at 5.50m and another at 5.65m. But his no-fault 5.75m secured him a place in the final. Valentin Lavillenie, eliminated in the number of attempts despite a jump at 5.65 m, and Ethan Cormont (5.50 m) stop there.
Silver medalist in Rio, Mélina Robert-Michon will not defend her medal in the discus throw final. For her sixth Olympic Games, the Frenchwoman did not pass the qualifying mark. Her throw at 60.88 meters placed her in 15th place, 64 centimeters from the last qualifying place. A double disappointment, compared to his medal in Rio but also to his throw to 65.30 m made in June. Disappointment also for Rénelle Lamote, fifth in her 800m semi-final and therefore not qualified for the final. Jimmy Vicaut secured him his place in the 100m semi-final.
Fencing: the Blue slash champagne
The mission was complicated, it turned out to be impossible for the French women’s saber team. Opposed to the Russians in the team saber final, the Blue stood up to the Olympic champion Sofia Pozdniakova and her teammates until the fourth stint, before breaking down. They eventually lost 45-41, after being led by a maximum of seven touches. “We are disappointed for sure, we came for the gold but we are going to savor”, promised Manon Brunet, Charlotte Lembach, Cécilia Berder and Sara Balzer at the end of the final.
Triathlon: the bronze relay
After the disappointments in the individual races, the French triathlon ended up collecting its first Olympic medal in this discipline inducted at the Sydney Games in 2000. Three-time reigning world champions, the French finished third behind Great Britain and the United States. A result below expectations but which allows Léonie Périault, Dorian Coninx, Cassandre Beaugrand and Vincent Luis to return to France with a satisfactory medal around their neck.
