Every day, the Olympic flame learns a little more about the history of France, while waiting for the Paris Olympics. And, this Wednesday, May 22, she added a lot to her knowledge. Starting from Bergerac, it crossed the Dordogne, passing through Saint-Aulaye-Puymangou, Sarlat-la-Canéda, Nontron, Montignac-Lascaux, Agonac then Périgueux.
From a hillside, she first contemplated the Dronne river in Saint-Aulaye-Puymangou, shortly after leaving Bergerac and the medieval architecture of the town. During the day, she passed by the site of Lascaux IV and its replica of the cave so famous for its prehistoric paintings.
This gave rise to beautiful images, especially since the flame was at that moment carried by the collective fencing relay. The sport with the most medals in French Olympic history, with 128 podiums, was in the spotlight during this visit to the Dordogne. Paolo Bois-Rolet, a young swordsman who is involved as a shooter in his club, led a group of 23 licensees. Brice Perek, the first French lightsaber champion, was also present. Just like Valérie Galli, world team vice-champion in 1988 and 1991.
Other figures from the French sporting landscape carried the flame this Wednesday. Among them, the former cyclist Laurent Jalabert, the coach of the French rugby union team Gaëlle Mignot, the double Olympic foil champion Brice Guyart, and the athlete Yoann Kowal.
At the end of its journey, and after the arrival of the flame in Périgueux, the Olympic cauldron was finally lit by Thomas Chinours, the French cadet shooting champion. Recently integrated into Creps de Talence, his dream is to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
This Thursday, the Olympic flame will circulate in the South-West, and more particularly in Gironde. It will leave Saint-Émilion early in the morning before reaching Bordeaux at the end of the day.
