At around 8:45 PM on Friday, something extraordinary happened on French soil, and specifically in the packed Stade de France. Suddenly, the crowd started going wild, shouting more and more of a familiar but modified chant.
They weren’t shouting “Allez les bleus” but something very similar. Someone in the press area understood the message to be: “Mattress Leon” and it was immediately clear what had happened. Leon Marchand, one of the idols of French sports, was preparing to prove himself in the 200-meter medley swimming final. The great icon of Paris 2024 with his fourth gold medal After also winning the 400 medley, 200 breaststroke and 200 butterfly races.
Even the start of one of the 400-metre heats of the decathlon had to be postponed for a long minute, a prime example of the broader French sporting culture that, of course, includes the footballer. Kylian Mbappé, an imperial figure in an Olympus where many sports can fit Without going any further than in Spain.
As we left the stadium, Prensa Ibérica spoke to many fans and they all agreed on one message: “Let’s see, although there are people here who love the Games, There are references in many sports in France And in this case, Leon is a pioneer who puts swimming at the top.”
Before changing sports and at different levels there were Camille Lacourt, Alain Bernard, Yannick Agnel, Frédérick Bousquet, Stéphan Caron, Hugues Duboscq, Maxime Grousset, Jérémy Stravius. or sisters Laura and Florent Manaudou. Shall we continue?
This is not the only example. Rugby player Anthony Dupont is another national hero He decided to change the 15-a-side rugby game he was famous for and take ‘VII del Gallo’ to the gold medal in Paris.
Or judoka Teddy Riner was recently crowned Olympic champion for the fourth consecutive time. and lighting the cauldron alongside Maria José Perec, the hero of the opening, another athletic legend in his time, such as Muriel Hurtis, Eunice Barber, Ladji Doucouré, Stéphane Caristan, Thierry Vigneron, Philippe Collet or, more recently, the pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie.
While there are 33 medals left in Tokyo, L’Equipe’s cover, which addresses the goal of 75 medals, describes Tokyo’s sports culture. a country that also admires absent athlete Kevin Mayer (decathlon world record holder)As in the past, former Azulgrana handball player Nikola Karabatic, who will hang up his boots after the Games, Jeróme Fernandez, basketball star Victor Wenbanyama, star of the women’s handball team Estelle Nze Minko or judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou had to settle for bronze, even though it was time.
The important thing is that France currently has 38 medals (five more than the previous edition) and 11 gold medals for 10th place. The Japanese capital, which is in third place in the medal standings with one gold from Australia and three from China, is waiting for the USA to begin its climb in athletics.
Source: Informacion
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.