A magnificent symbol.
As karate disappears from the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, the only French Olympic champion in its history Steven Da Costa will be France's flag bearer at Sunday's closing ceremony.
The first handover between Tokyo and the French capital.
An announcement made by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).
The tricolor is one of the seven gold medalists of the blue-white-red delegation at the Tokyo Olympics.
🇫🇷 Steven Da Costa, Olympic karate champion (kumite -67kg), is appointed French flag bearer for the closing ceremony which will take place on Sunday August 8 at 1 p.m. (UTC + 2)!
✨ # GoLesBleus # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/RhCVCdqTLw
- France Team (@EquipeFRA) August 6, 2021
See you on Sunday from 1 p.m. to experience the closing ceremony of these very special Tokyo Olympics.
France made a strong impression during the opening ceremony with the superb salto of Samir AĂŻt-SaĂŻd.
Maybe Steven Da Costa will give us a little karate kicking demonstration.
On a mission for gold
At 24, Steven Da Costa pocketed gold at the Tokyo Olympics thanks to his victory in the final of the -67 kg tournament against the Turkish Eray Samdan (5-0).
The Lorrainer was on a mission for these Olympics: “It would be a big disappointment not to come home with gold.
I go for gold, not for silver or bronze.
Mission succeeded in Tokyo but, of course, the title of standard bearer was not really in his sights.
The 2018 world champion admitted to having a hard time believing his Olympic title.
“It's going to take me a night, a day to achieve.
Maybe I will have to wait until I am back in France, ”said the new Olympic champion.
The closing ceremony, the flag in hand and the French delegation behind it, may be a click.
