Mélina Robert-Michon formalizes her desire to be the flag bearer of the Blues – Libération

At 45, the discus thrower is preparing to compete in her seventh Olympic Games. On paper, it ticks all the boxes of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).

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Until then, she only dared to say it in a low voice. But Mélina Robert-Michon, pillar of the French athletics team, is now very officially a candidate for the role of standard bearer for the Blues next summer.

On paper, given the conditions set by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), the discus thrower has every chance. Because to be able to present yourself to lead the French delegation to Paris 2024, you must never have been a flag bearer before and… have already participated in the Olympics. Two boxes that Mélina Robert-Michon, 45, happily ticks: in July, she will compete in her seventh Olympics, having started in Sydney in 2000.

“Obviously it appeals to me, it’s something that’s close to my heart,” she explained, according to comments reported by RMC Sport captured on Wednesday March 27, during a Blue Evening organized by the CNOSF. The Olympics mean a lot to me, it has guided more than twenty years of my life.

Before the Tokyo Olympics, his name had already been circulated for being flag bearer, a job which had landed in the hands of Clarisse Agbégnénou and gymnast Samir Aït-Saïd. “They must choose me if my career inspires them, if my personality pleases them. I am as I am, added Mélina Robert-Michon on Wednesday evening. Everyone has their own definition of the role of standard bearer. It must fit their idea. I would be very proud to represent them and take them all with me to these Olympics to make it a great success.”

The job description designed by the CNOSF to diversify the candidates does not please everyone, with Teddy Riner and Clarisse Agbégnénou in the lead, who have already been standard bearers in Rio and Tokyo. The demanding criterion of having an Olympic past also stands in the way of Kylian Mbappé (football), whose participation in the Games seems increasingly uncertain, Victor Wembanyama (basketball) or Antoine Dupont (rugby Sevens). It will also be necessary to “embody Olympic ethics and values”, thereby excluding athletes who have been convicted in legal cases. Since the presentation of these criteria in mid-March, swimmer Florent Manaudou has reiterated in all his speeches that he is available for the job.

For the first time, the four standard bearers of the Olympic and Paralympic teams (one man, one woman for each delegation) will be elected by their peers. The federations will each be able to present a candidate, the vote will be done with all the athletes of the French delegation. The public will not be able to participate in the vote.