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Day 8 : Game, set and three medals for France

By Matthieu Boisseau
03/08/2012

Day 8 : Game, set and three medals for France !

No gold but three new medals for France which is now down to fifth place in the medal table with a total of 22 medals, just one gold medal behind South Korea.

Top of the day : Tsonga-Llodra, Benneteau-Gasquet

French tennismen Richard Gasquet, Julien Benneteau, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra respectively won both the bronze and silver medals respectively, on Court One at the legendary All England Club in Wimbledon. Llodra/Tsonga were defeated by USA’s Bryan brothers, but they guaranteed a medal yesterday as they won their marathon 18-16 in the last set against Ferrer and Lopez in the semi-finals. The Spanish duo also lost against Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau, which were then presented with bronze medals.

Flop of the day : Jérémie Azou and Stany Delayre

The French rowers were tagged as the favourites but they finished fourth in in the lightweight double’s event. It is all the more frustrating that they had a great start but the race had to be restarted after the seat of British rower Zac Purchase came loose, forcing him and Mark Hunter to stop rowing. Despite a complaint from the French, the race had to be re-started because it hadn’t progressed more than 100 metres, and the British duo managed to get the silver medal.

Number of the day : 12.

Twelve years ago after winning the silver medal in Sydney, the French shooter has received the bronze medal in the women’s trap shooting. The competition was topped by Italy’s Jessica Rossi, who missed only one of her 175 shots in the final and qualifying rounds ! Delphine Reau clinched the bronze medal in the shoot-off, as three shooters were tied. But the Frenchwoman had the last word.

Highlights of the day on Sunday 5th August :

In total, 23 gold medals are to be had. Not to be missed under any circumstances is the 100m when Jamaica might make history by winning all 3 places on the podium.  In athletics, the Frenchman, Mahiédine Mekhissi has a chance to get a medal in the 3000m steeple taking place at the Olympic Stadium.

 

 

Day 7 : Teddy winner

France wins its 18th medal as judoka Teddy Riner snaps the gold in the +100kg category.

Top of the day : Teddy Riner

The 23-year-old French judoka obtained the only title he still had to win as he dominated the +100kg men’s event thourought the day. The five-time World champion snapped the gold medal without any trouble. All his opponents seemed intimidated by RIner’s incredible power. The Frenchman was the overwhemingly favourite but he never looked stressed, and definitely confirmed his tag as David Douillet’s heir.

Flop of the day : Gael Prevost

The young French archer, had been singled out as being able to compete for a medal, but his early elimination when he lost against incumbent Olympic champion Ukrain’s Viktor Ruban in the last 16 round was the end ofd his dream. It was a dramatic finish as Prevost was leading before the last shoot.

Number of the day : 1.

Germain Chardin and Dorian Mortelette gave French rowing its first medal in the Olympics after many disappointments. They finished second in the men’s pair event. The New Zealand’s duo was unbeatable, but the Frenchmen applied constant pressure during the last quarter to keep a small  lead on Great Britain’s George Nash and William Satch.

Tomorrow highlights : Tennis. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Michael Llodra, men double. Wimbledon. Rowing. Stany Delayre – Jérémie Azou, men’s lightweight double sculls, Eton Dorney

Day 6 : The French savoir Fer

Emilie Fer gave France its 6th gold medal in the Olympics as she produced a fautless run in the women’s K1 single event.

Top of the day : Emilie Fer

France's Emilie Fer won the women's K1 kayak singles at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, becoming the first female Olympic Champion in the history of French canoe-kayak. The 29-year olf former team world champion produced a faultless run and defeated 18-year-old Australia’s Jessica Fox. Many thought Fer would never be able to give her best in such a major event. She managed to show everyone what she was capable of achieving.

Flop of the day : Laure Manadou

2004 Olympic Champion Laure Manaudou has been eliminated from the series in the 200 backstroke, with the 30th overall time. We could not say we surprised by her performance as she was also eliminated in the 100m backstroke series. However, we could not help thinking that she could do much better. But it seems that contrary to what happened four years ago in Beijing, where she could not cope with the pressure, Laure Manaudou has decided to stay positive, whatever happens to her.

Number of the day : 0.503 second. This is the gap between British and French cycling sprint teams, as Hindes, Kenny and legendary Sir Chris Hoy smashed their own world record (42.600) to beat France’s Baugé, Sireau and d’Almeida (43.013) during an incredible evening at the London Velodrome. France also broke its own record but this was not sufficient, as the British accomplished the ride of their life. This was the same old story in the rivalry between the two countries.  This was a repeat of the scenario four years ago, when Britain defeated France in Beijing.

Tomorrow highlights : Judo. Teddy Riner, + 100 kg. ExCel, London. Weightlifting. Benjamin Hennequin. 85kgs. ExCel, London. Swimming. Florent Manaudou, 50m.  Aquatic Center, London.

Day 5 : Decosse finally wins gold

Frenck judoka Lucie Decosse, won the only title she had still to capture, as she reigned over the 70kg category.

Top of the day : Lucie Decosse, the French Federer

30-year old and three-time world champion French judoka Lucie Decosse, who had won every major title except an Olympic gold, finally won it as she defeated Germany’s Kerstin Thiele in the women's -70kg category’s final. Decosse claimed France's first Olympic judo title for 12 years, and recovered from Beijing’s disappointment when she lost in the final four years ago.

Flop of the day : Yannick Agnel is not unbeatable

Agnel, the 20-year-old Frenchman, who is the No.1 swimmer at the London Games, finished fourth in the 100m final, setting a new personal record with 47.84, but that was not enough to beat America’s Nathan Adrian. The frustration should not obscurethe fact that Agnel remains one of the top medal-winning swimmers at these year's Olympics, with two gold and one silver medal.

Number of the day : 29

Sylvain Chavanel seemed able to win a medal, but he could not do better than rank 29th in the time trial. As Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Tony Martin charged in to take the podium slots, and the medals, the French rider was left to go home in 29th place. The Frenchman seemed in pain after the first time check, but by the second time check at 18.4 kilometers, the French champion had started to crack, the bronchitis he suffered in the Tour de France was affecting his rhythm and strength when he battled on the London road surface.

Tomorrow highlights. Track cycling. Men team sprint. London velodrome. Judo. Audrey Tcheuméo, - 78 kg. ExCel.

 

Day 4 - Estanguet Writes History

Top of the day : Tony Estanguet

France’s Tony Estanguet wins his third Olympic gold medal with a tremendous performance in the men’s C1 at the Lee Valley whitewater centre. It is the first time a French athlete has won three Olympic titles in a row, and a fabulous redemption for Estanguet, who got eliminated in the final four years ago in Beijing. The 34-year-old French paddler took gold ahead of Germany's Sideris Tasiadis and Slovakia's Michal Martikan, his eternal rival, which he also defeated at the 2000 Sydney Games and 2004 Athens Games. Estanguet is now running for the IOC Committee.

Flop of the day : French fencing

Four days completed in the Olympics, and still no medal from the French fencers. Erwan Le Pechoux and Victor Sintès lost in their second bout against Sout Korea’s Choi Byung-chul (13-15),China’s Lei Sheng (6-15). It is truly disappointing as fencers are normally France's most successful Olympic athletes with an amazing collection of 115 medals since 1896. We’re now waiting to see what will happen for the team events.

Number of the day : 0. Silver-medalist in Beijing, French weightlifter Venceslas Debaya was unable to snatch any bar, and was then eliminated from the 69 kg category.

Tomorrow’s highlights : Fencing. Gauthier Grumier, epee men event. Judo. Lucie Décosse, - 70kg.

 

Day 3 : Yannick Agnel, King of London

Top of the day : Yannick Agnel.

A true star is born. Yannick Agnel captured his second gold medal, 24 hours after winning the 4x100m relay, as trashed his opponents in the men's 200 metres freestyle final, including China's Sun Yang, Germany’s Paul Biedermannand USA’s Ryan Lochte. The 20-year old Frenchman defeated a flurry of superstars in one of the most exhilarating races in the swimming pool, and he led all the way to clock one minute 43.14 seconds.

Flop of the day : Laura Flessel.

40-year-old epee fencer Laura Flessel completed her last competition with a dramatic loss against Romania’s Simona Gherman (15-13) in the last 16. It puts an end to her fabulous career, as Flessel won five medals in past Olympics, including gold medals in both the individual and team epee during the 1996 Atlanta Games. She received a vibrant standing ovation for the French crowd, and she truly deserved it. But we wished she could have fought for a medal.

Number of the day : 3.

France is now third in the Olympic medal table as the country bagged three more medals, as Yannick Agnel’ triumphed and judokas Ugo Legrand and Automne Pavia crushed the bronze medal. France has now won 3 gold medals, 1 silver, and 3 bronze. Four years ago in Beijing, France finished tenth in the medal table. We are on the point of doing much better !! But let's not speak too soon.

Tomorrow’s highlights : Judo. Gévrise Emane, - 63 kg. ExCel, London.Swimming. Camille Muffat, 200m freestyle. Aquatic Center, London. Canoe. Tony Estanguet, C1. Lee Valley.

 

Day 2 : Double glory for French swimmers !

Top of the day : Camille Muffat and the 4x100m.

Eight years after Laure Manaudou’s triumphed in Athens, another French icon wins the gold medal in the 400m freestyle, defeating a flurry of superstars including Italy’s Federica Pellegrini and Britain’s Rebecca Adlington and USA’s Allison Schmitt, who finished second. Camille Muffat set a new Olympic record, clocking an amazing 4:01.45, only 32/100 ahead of Schmitt.

France experienced absolute joy as Leveaux, Gillot Lefert and Agnel overcame a vaunted American quartet including Phelps with anchor Agnel surging past top US swimmer Ryan Lochte in the final 50 meters to secure victory. In Beijing, four years ago, the scenario was the exact opposite, as the American swimmer Jazon Lezak went past Alain Bernard of USA in the final 10 meters. Simply fantastic!

Flop of the day : British handball team. This article is supposed to deal with French athletes only. Indeed, the UK team got trashed by….the Frenchmen, nicknamed "Les Experts" for winning 5 of the 6 last international competitions. France’s victory is not a surprise.  But the score, 44-15, looks somewhat humiliating.

Number of the day : 1. Celine Goberville gave France its first medal as she claimed silver this morning in the Olympic Women’s 10-Meter Air Pistol. The 25-year old Frenchwoman may have some regrets as she was leading the competition going into the 10th and decisive round, but the pressure may have been too much and she finished second. Celine Goberville is studying kinesiotherapy while being a great champion.

Tomorrow’s highlights : Swimming. Camille Lacourt, 100m backstroke and Yannick Agnel, 200m freestyle. Aquatic Center, London. Judo. Ugo legrand, -73 kg. ExCel, London.

 

Day 1- Nearly a Medal for France

 

Top of the day : Sofiane Milous. The 23-year old judoka got extremely close to giving France its first medal in the Olympics. Unfortunately he finished fourth after loosing his last fight against the best judoka in the world, Uzbekistan’s Rishod Sobirov.  But he showed a great fighting spirit thourought the day, and should boost his teammates confidence for the days to come.

Flop of the day : Men’s cycling team. We secretely hoped that France’s Sylvain Chavanel, Tony Gallopin, and Arnaud Demare could win a medal. Their result is disappointing to say the least. Chavanel  was in the late breakaway who stayed clear till the finish line, but Kazakhstan’s Vinokourov won the sprint, while the Frenchman finished 20th.
 

Figure of the day : 50 000 Euros. French gold medalists will earn 50 000 Euros from the French Olympic Commitee. In comparison, the British athletes are going to London for sporting glory only.  Malaysia tops the list, with half a million euro promised to each gold medalist.

 

Tomorrow highlights : Swimming. Camille Muffat  400m and men team 4x100m. Aquatic Center, London.

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