It's like a movie that you have the feeling you have already seen.
In fact, we have already seen it.
In 2012. In 2016. But this time, the end was bound to change.
It was almost inevitable.
The BMX Blues would return from Tokyo with one or more medals.
Especially with a men's final reduced to seven (the American Conors, qualified, having been injured in the semi-final) including three Tricolores at the start!
On arrival, the French are 4th (Sylvain André), 6th (Romain Mahieu) and 7th (Joris Daudet). A huge sense of waste. At the entrance of the last corner, Joris Daudet easily rolled towards bronze. Before slipping on his own and dropping an Olympic medal that had been eluding him for nine years. At this level of failure, we do not even dare to speak of a curse.
" Damn ? Yes and no, answers the Charentais, 30 years old. In one-day races, the podium is never what you think it is, there are always boys who have come out of nowhere. Three Olympic Games, three falls
(Editor's note: in quarterfinals in Rio and a half in London)
, no medal. But that's not what made my record either
(Editor's note: he won almost everything ... except the Games)
. I didn't take any chances, I really don't know what happened. It is a bend that is not dangerous, where no one has fallen. A mistake. Yet the medal was there, that's how it is… ”
😌 Huge disillusionment for French BMX
The three Frenchmen finished 4th, 6th and 8th in the long-awaited final.
Niek Kimmann wins Olympic gold ahead of Kye Whyte and Carlos Alberto Ramirez # Tokyo2020 #Olympic
Games Follow the Olympics live ▶ https: //t.co/m1pzqe15FH pic.twitter.com/9cQ7BBwpTk
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 30, 2021
Daudet and André had already hung on a bit from the start of the race.
It's not easy to get by when you put sticks in your own wheels.
“It's like that and with us it's difficult, loose the Vauclusien, 30 years old too.
There are seven of us, there is no corridor, so even if we do everything right there are divine interventions happening.
“We would have to believe that the sky really has its eyes on the French BMX team every four (or five) years in July.
"Even if we had three big chances, we can't control everything"
“But hey, it's not random, confesses André. The seven who are in the final are among the top ten in the world rankings. Except that if we repeat the race ten times, the Dutchman Kimmann will win three times. It's sport. You have to be there for 40 seconds otherwise it's goodbye and we go home. "
Winner of the test event on the same track two years ago, Romain Mahieu is satisfied with his sixth place. “I expected better but there is positive for my first experience, smiles the Northerner, 26 years old. I came to find out, I learned things for 2024. The pressure is not the same as I have felt elsewhere. It's an atmosphere you have to familiarize yourself with. It's hard to imagine that none of us made a medal. Even if we had three big chances, we can't control everything. "
No huge disappointment either for Axelle Étienne, seventh for the girls. “I did not miss my final, loose the Dyonisienne, 23 years old. I took risks to reach third place, it didn't pay off, I don't regret anything. It will serve me for the future. It's a shame not to bring anything back to France but the competition is very tough. "
Since the double with Anne-Caroline Chausson and Laëtitia Le Corguillé for the appearance of the event in 2008, the Tricolores take gadins to the rings with a regularity of metronomes while they are part of the elite and shine on the circuit all year. “I cannot tell you if I will still be there for the Paris Olympics, breathes Daudet. I really have to want to. Otherwise it is better to leave the place, there is relief. Okay, it's a disappointment for everyone but Romain and young, Axelle is young, Sylvain is my age but these were his first Games. There will be other opportunities for everyone. »The appointment is made ...
