At the buzzer, the Marseille substitutes grabbed their coach and threw him into the pool of the Olympic Aquatic Center (CAO) in Saint-Denis to celebrate their overwhelming victory (17-8). A handful of minutes later, the Marseille players and their opponents from Noisy-le-Sec emerged from the pool and launched into a clapping with a won over audience of around 1,500 spectators. The story repeats itself.
For the 4th year in a row, the Marseille Swimmers’ Circle won the title of French water polo champion this Wednesday evening, during the last test event at the CAO in anticipation of the Paris Olympics. And he defeated Cercle 93 Noisy-le-Sec for the 4th time in a row. Solid and efficient, the Marseillais outclassed their opponents. After a balanced start (2-2, 3rd), Blues star Thomas Vernoux and his teammates stepped up the pace to take a 6-goal lead at the break (2-8) then a 7th at the start of the 3rd. quarter time. The meeting is over. The Marseillais continue their reign over French water polo for sixty years by recording a 41st title.
“I was able to take a lot of bearings during these two days in preparation for the Games”
Like the France – United States women’s friendly match on Monday evening and the semi-finals of the Final Four on Tuesday, the final of the French Championship attracted many spectators for the first time and even foreign tourists like Thomas, a 63-year-old American on vacation in France with his wife and two of his grandchildren. “I love this sport because one of my grandsons plays it. The architecture with the wooden frame of the CAO is magnificent and the quality match. »
The players appreciated this support from the public, winners and losers alike. “It was great to be able to share our sport with the public, that’s the most beautiful thing. We improvised a clapping with the Marseillais because we wanted to give a good image of water polo, explains Rémi Saudadier, the leader of Noisy-le-Sec and the Blues. In this match, Marseille was too strong. We are a small club with few resources compared to our opponents. They have around twenty players and we only have 9.” In the opposite camp, it was time to celebrate.
“We always remained focused because this team had beaten us in the championship, a first in four years,” says Thomas Vernoux, who will return here during the Olympics as leader of the Blues. We are very happy with this new title acquired in this magnificent swimming pool. I was able to take a lot of bearings during these two days in preparation for the Paris Olympics. It’s an advantage to have been able to play high-stakes matches here. The stands will be even more full in less than three months. It makes you want. »
