Having two standard bearers - a man and a woman - next summer at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics will be possible. The IOC Executive Board has offered this opportunity to nations, when so far only one athlete could parade at the head of his delegation.
An opportunity that France could seize, which, for several years, has been trying to make alternation work. Tony Estanguet was a standard bearer at the Beijing Games in 2008, Laura Flessel in London in 2012 and Teddy Riner in Rio in 2016.
In the past four years, the method of designation has also evolved since, now, it is the athletes who vote, each federation choosing a man and a woman as candidates for the election.
On the tricolor side, the idea of a double standard-bearer had been put forward by the céiste Denis Gargaud, reigning Olympic champion and who will play his selection in a few weeks. If he is qualified, he could therefore stand as a candidate.
The voting process will be launched in April
Other athletes have already expressed their wish to succeed Teddy Riner. The athletes Mélina Robert-Michon, silver medalist at the disc in Rio and who will participate in her 6 th Games, and Renaud Lavillenie, Olympic pole vault champion in 2012; the swimmer Florent Manaudou, triple Olympic medalist, or the judokate vice-Olympic champion and quadruple world champion, Clarisse Agbegnenou.
A non-exhaustive list, of other sportsmen like the windsurfer Charline Picon, who will defend his Olympic title, or the handball player Nikola Karabatic, double gold medalist at the Games, also having the profile.
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The voting process will be launched in April, during the transition to the D-100 of the Tokyo Games. The vote will take place in July, when all the qualified tricolors will be known.