A few months before the Olympic Games in Paris, several French athletes are expected in 2024. Some will want to confirm the great promises seen in recent weeks, others to shine for a possible last dance.
• Léon Marchand (21 years old, swimming)
Triple world champion at the Fukuoka World Championships (400m medley, 200m medley and 200m butterfly), new holder of the 400m medley world record – formerly held by Michael Phelps – Léon Marchand crushed everything in his path by becoming the first French swimmer to win three individual titles in the same edition of the world championships. Coached by Bob Bowman, Phelps’ mentor, the Toulouse native will be one of the headliners to watch during the Paris Olympics next summer to finally unlock his Olympic tally, he who had been a fanny in Tokyo (at best a 6th place in the 400m medley.
• Teddy Riner (34 ans, judo)
Flag bearer of the French delegation in Rio in 2016, the judoka will aim for a fifth individual medal in the +100 kg category in Paris, after gold in London and Rio, and bronze in Beijing and Tokyo. Hindered by a “small technical glitch” at the end of 2023, the PSG licensee hopes to gain momentum to go for gold at the Arena Champ de Mars, where the judo events will take place next summer. The best exit for a probable last dance?
Teddy Riner with his two gold medals after the 2021 Olympics. © Iconsport
• Clarisse Agbégnénou (31 years old, judo)
Returning from maternity after the birth of her daughter Athena in June 2022, the Olympic champion in the -63 kg category in Tokyo will want to achieve the double in front of her audience and confirm her excellent return to form in 2023, where she won her sixth world title in Doha. Only hitch: his elimination in the quarter-finals of the European Championships in Montpellier. A failure that the champion wants to quickly get rid of to concentrate on what could be her last competition.
• Kylian Mbappé (25 years old, football)
Will 2024 be the year of the captain of the France team? While his future is closely scrutinized from January 1, Kylian Mbappé begins a pivotal year with PSG, with whom he can aim for a victory in the Champions League, but especially with the Blues, who will play the Euro in Germany in June. The striker could even do the double by lining up for the Olympic Games, where he would be coached by Thierry Henry. The Bondy star has in any case never hidden his intention to play everything next summer. To win it all?
Félix Lebrun during the European Table Tennis Games in 2023 © AFP
• Félix Lebrun (17 years old, table tennis)
The future of table tennis is in good hands. If Alexis Lebrun (20 years old) revealed himself first, his little brother Félix is ranked 8th player in the world even though he is not even an adult (he will celebrate his 18th birthday in September 2024). Second player in the world under the age of 19, gold medalist at the European Games, the youngest of the Lebrun brothers has never hidden his ambition to win a medal in Paris, especially alongside his brother. “We don’t talk about it too much with my brother, it’s far away and there are a lot of competitions before. To face each other at the Games, if possible towards the end of the tournament, that would be truly exceptional. It is a dream. We couldn’t do better,” he explained on RMC last November.
• Coline Devillard (23 years old, gymnastics)
European champion on vault in April in Antalya six years after her first coronation, the French gymnast also shone with her teammates from the French team during the world championships in Antwerp (Belgium), where the Blues won bronze in the team competition behind the United States and Brazil. A historic performance in the history of French gymnastics since it is the first time since 1950 that such a feat has occurred. At 23, Coline Devillard is now eyeing the Olympics, where she holds nothing back, especially in front of her audience.
• Antoine Dupont (27 ans, rugby)
Captain of the XV of France beaten in the quarter-final of “his” World Cup by South Africa in the fall, the Stade Toulousain scrum half will discover a whole new experience in 2024, by joining the team of rugby sevens to compete in the Olympic Games. Absent from the Six Nations Tournament to familiarize himself with the technical and physical specificities of the Olympic discipline, Dupont will experience a special season in selection but also in club, which will have to adapt to the calendar to put the “Minister of the Interior” in the best conditions to go for an Olympic medal next summer.
• Manon Fiorot (MMA, 33)
She dazzled the Accor Hotel Arena in Bercy during UFC Paris last September and now she only dreams of one thing: a world belt. While the Niçoise hoped to be able to challenge the -57 kilo champion Alexa Grasso in her next fight, “The Beast” will first have to overcome the obstacle of the American Erin Blanchfield, the other fighter who was hoping for her first shot at the belt. A shock which will take place on March 30 in Atlantic City. With the ambition to keep intact his chances of getting the coveted belt.
Manon Fiorot after her victory over Rose Namajunas at UFC Paris in September 2023 © Icon Sport
• Alexandre Léauté (23 years old, para-cycling)
After his raid during the Tokyo Paralympic Games (gold in the C2 pursuit, silver in the C1-3 time trial, bronze in the C2 time trial and the C1-3 road race), Alexandre Léauté flew over the para-cycling world championships in Glasgow in August, whether on the track (three titles, a bronze medal) or on the road (two titles in the road race and the time trial). Not yet qualified for the Paris Games, para-cycling will try to glean the last necessary points during the Track Worlds next spring, in Brazil, then in two Road World Cups, in Italy and Belgium.
• Léna Grandveau (20 years old, handball)
“She saved France a little.” Olivier Krumbholz knows that he owes a lot to Léna Grandveau in winning the third title of world champion for French handball players against the Norwegians at the end of December. With icy composure, she carried the Blues into the money-time by scoring the last four French goals. An impressive performance which perhaps allowed him to validate a place in the team which will try to retain his Olympic crown acquired in Tokyo three years ago. A feat achieved by the “Experts” in 2008 and 2012.
• Lenny Martinez (20 years old, cycling)
Second youngest cyclist to wear a leader’s jersey on one of the three grand tours since 1904 at 20 years and 51 days by donning the red tunic at the end of the sixth stage of the Vuelta, the Groupama-FDJ rider kept his leader’s jersey for two days during his first Grand Tour. In June, he tamed Mont Ventoux by achieving his first professional success ahead of Michael Woods, Ivan Sosa, Domenico Pozzovivo and a host of other experienced climbers to win at the 5th edition of the CIC-Mont Ventoux.
Justine Braisaz-Bouchet during the mass start in Lenzereide, December 17, 2023. © Iconsport
• Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (27 years old, biathlon)
In the wake of Marie Dorin-Habert and Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet put her career on hold to discover the joys of motherhood. Olympic champion in the mass start in Beijing in 2022 and back on the World Cup circuit this year after a blank season, the biathlete from Les Saisies was quick to reassure everyone about her state of form. Third fastest athlete on skis since the start of winter, she already has four individual podiums, including three victories in a row in Lenzerheide to sign a monumental feat and take the yellow leader’s bib. From there to becoming favorite for the Big Crystal Globe and succeeding Julia Simon? All dreams are allowed.
They are also to follow in 2024: Arthur Fils (Tennis), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Football), Victor Wembanyama (Basketball), Sasha Zhoya (athletics), Oriane Bertone (climbing), Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (MTB)…
Analie Simon Journalists RMC Sport
2023-12-31 20:49:19
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