It's the last straight line and it promises to be exciting for the French delegation.
Four days before the end of the competitions, the Blues, who won their 25th medal of the Games on Wednesday thanks to the duo Camille Lecointre and Aloïse Retornaz (470 women, sailing), can hope to see their bags fill up this Thursday with swimmer Marc- Antoine Olivier, who opens the day in open water, the decathlete Kevin Mayer, Mickaël Mawem in climbing, or the hurdlers Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and Aurel Manga.
For fans of team sports, the semi-finals of the French in basketball, handball and volleyball will be the events not to be missed this Thursday.
Marc-Antoine Olivier aims for gold
He dreams of a brighter metal.
Bronze medalist in the 10 km 5 years ago in Rio, Marc-Antoine Olivier will set off in a few hours (the start is scheduled at 11:30 p.m. French time) from the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo Bay, where the warm waters are close to 30 degrees, with the sole ambition of winning gold.
The 25-year-old Northerner has become, since Rio, a central figure in international open water with five world medals including a 5 km title in 2017 in Budapest and a second place in 2019.
It's a special day for Kevin Mayer @mayer_deca in the decathlon.
His back injury prevents him from being at 100%.
The 2017 world champion arrives at the end of an endless day, but he is still in the race for a medal.
Anything can still happen!
💪 pic.twitter.com/L3ToX6yFnv
- francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 4, 2021
Mayer for honor
Physically reduced - he has been blocked in his back since his arrival in Tokyo - and psychologically affected, Kevin Mayer began his Olympic journey on Wednesday morning in pain and tears.
While he was aiming for gold, the French Olympic vice-champion is, for the moment, far from his usual standards.
But the Frenchman began his recovery at the end of the day.
After five out of ten events, he is fifth in the standings (4,340 pts), quite far from his Canadian rival Damian Warner (4,722 pts) whose coronation seems promised, but still in the race for the podium.
The third, the other Canadian Pierce Lepage, has 4,529 units on the clock.
A medal is therefore always possible if his back leaves him alone.
Mickaël Mawem climbs for his brother
They had made their mark on the climbing qualifications on Tuesday. Aerials, felines, the Mawem brothers dreamed of climbing together on the podium in climbing, a discipline which was making its debut at the Games in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Mickaël will be alone this Thursday for the final of the discipline. His older brother, Bassa, will not be up against the wall at 10:30 am. The two-time World Cup winner was injured and suffered a total rupture of the lower tendon of his left biceps which forced him to forfeit. Qualifying winner and European bouldering champion 2019, Mickaël will try to win gold to mark his name in the history of the discipline and to avenge the bad fate which befell his brother.
🏃🌪 After qualifying for the final, Frenchman Pascal Martinot-Lagarde appeared relieved to have achieved this performance
🗣️ "My journey is so chaotic, that making a final today, I am elsewhere"
▶ Follow the Olympics live: https://t.co/KhtK42sqKk pic.twitter.com/IbNnauyG3B
- francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 4, 2021
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and Aurel Manga to avoid the zero point
Four days before the end of the athletics events, no French athlete has yet reached the podium in Tokyo. Five years ago, the tricolor camp had brought back six medals from Rio. While waiting for the entry into the running of Yohann Diniz, who will compete in the 50 km walk on Friday, the last French chances rest on the shoulders - and the back - of Kevin Mayer and on the legs of Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and Aurel Manga qualified for the final of the 110 m hurdles. Martinot-Lagarde, had to achieve his best time of the season (13''25), to reach the final. The reigning European champion finished second in his semi-final just behind Jamaican Ronald Levy (13′'23). Same scenario for Aurel Manga who equaled his best personal mark in 13′'24. If Grant Holloway,world champion and holder of the second best time of all time (12''81), remains the big favorite, the two French hurdlers can hope to climb on the podium.
Our TV tip: the BHV trilogy
It's a day to put on an RTT and stay warm - or cool - at home to treat yourself to a tempting day of binge-watching in front of the semi-finals of the French men's handball, basketball and basketball teams. volleyball.
A program without downtime which begins at 10 am with the partners of Nikola Karabatic who face Egypt, then which continues at 1 pm with the explosive duel between the Blues of Nicolas Batum and the Slovenian genius Luka Dončić.
Finally the trilogy will end with the historic semi-final of the volleyball players of Laurent Tillie who, after having taken out the Polish favorites (3-2), will challenge Argentina from 2 p.m.
The French program
ATHLETICS
Decathlon (M) with Kevin Mayer: 110m hurdles at 2 o'clock, discus throw at 2:50 a.m., pole vault at 5:45 a.m., javelin throw at 12:15 p.m. and 1,500 m at 2:40 p.m.
Relay series 4 x 100 m (H) with Mouhamadou Fall, Amaury Golitin, Marvin Rene, Jimmy Vicaut, Meba Mickael Zez, at 4.30am.
110m hurdles final (H) with Aurel Manga and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, at 4:55 am
20 km walk (H) with Kevin Campion and Gabriel Bordier, at 9:30 am
4 x 400m relay series (F) with Amandine Brossier, Floria Gueï, Diana Iscaye, Sokhna Lacoste, Brigitte Ntiamoah, at 12:25.
Semi-final of the 1,500m (H) with Azeddine Habz, at 1:10 p.m.
BASKET
Semi-final (M), France v Slovenia, at 1 p.m.
CANOE-KAYAK ONLINE
K1, 200 m (H) with Maxime Beaumont.
Semi-final at 2:30 a.m., final at 4:42 a.m.
TRACK CYCLING
Omnium with Benjamin Thomas: scratch at 8:30 am, tempo at 9:27 am, elimination race at 10:07 am, points race at 10:55 am
Individual speed (H) with Sébastien Vigier.
Round of 16 at 8:54 a.m., repechage at 9:21 a.m. and quarter-finals at 9.45 a.m.
Keirin (F) with Mathilde Gros.
Quarter-finals at 9:06 a.m., semi-finals at 9:56 a.m., final at 10:45 a.m.
OPEN WATER SWIMMING
10 km (H) with Marc-Antoine Olivier and David Aubry, departure at 11:30 p.m. overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
ESCALATION
Mickaël Mawem, speed final at 10:30 am, bouldering at 11:30 am, difficulty at 2:10 pm.
GOLF
2nd round with Céline Boutier at 3:03 am and Perrine Delacour at 3:47 am
HANDBALL
Semi-final (M), France v Egypt, at 10 a.m.
KARATE
Kata (F) with Alexandra Feracci, from 3 a.m., finals from 12.50 p.m.
-67 kg (M) with Steven Da Costa, from 5:55 am, final at 8:40 pm
MODERN PENTATHLON
Women with Elodie Clouvel and Marie Oteiza, 6 o'clock fencing event
Men with Valentin Belaud and Valentin Prades, fencing event at 9:30 am
DIVING
Platform at 10 m: Alaïs Kalonji, semi-final at 3 a.m., final at 8 a.m.
SKATEBOARD
Park Qualifications (H) with Vincent Matheron, 2 hours
VOLLEYBALL
Semi-final (M), France - Argentina, at 2 p.m.
