Times are changing… Today, to be a standard bearer at the Olympic Games, it is not enough to be legitimate. It must also be made known loud and clear. Monday afternoon, in Marseille, Florent Manaudou, 29, proclaimed his desire to lead the tricolor delegation, next July 24, during the opening ceremony in Tokyo. France will enter the stadium in the penultimate position just before Japan, the organizing country.
"It would be an honor," explained the 2012 Olympic champion and 2016 Olympic vice-champion of the 50m freestyle to L'Equipe. It is a vote of the sportsmen, I asked the federation to introduce myself. It's something I want. It would be a dream to be a standard bearer. "
“Olympic champion in 2020 and standard bearer in 2024”
The ex-handball player, who is divided between his Turkish base in Antalya and the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille, is not the first to show his intentions. The pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, titled in London in 2012, has already positioned himself to succeed the judoka Teddy Riner. T he record player Mélina Robert-Michon, Olympic vice-champion in Rio, now feels legitimate and would not refuse such recognition ...
"There are surely other sportsmen better placed than me, slips Manaudou, I think that Renaud (Lavillenie) will be elected. But hey, I would like to be in Paris too ... The best would be to be Olympic champion in 2020 and standard bearer in 2024. It would be good! "
