A surprise and a confirmation. This Monday, during the television news of France 2, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) unveiled the names of the two flag bearers for the Tokyo Games (July 23-August 8), appointed by the 52 ambassadors of the 27 federations concerned by the Japanese edition. By electing the gymnast Samir Ait Said and the judokate Clarisse Agbegnenou, the latter have given the lie to the forecasts announcing a duel between Renaud Lavillenie and Florent Manaudou. While the details of the votes have not yet been communicated, Ait Said created a surprise, perhaps taking advantage of the unintentional competition between Lavillenie and his athletic colleague Mélina Robert-Michon, who will live in Tokyo for her 6th Games. from Tokyo. Did some people fear that a discipline would take over the two flags?
A first for gymnastics in France
Possible. Still, athletics, often considered the king sport of the Games, will still have to wait at least three years before finding a successor to Marie-Josée Pérec, who led the French delegation to Atlanta. With considerable sympathy due to his sporting performances (bronze medalist on the rings in 2019 and European champion on the same apparatus in 2013) and his very endearing personality, Samir Ait Said will have the opportunity, in the capital Japanese woman, to make people forget her terrible injury that occurred five years ago during the Rio Games. During a reception during the vaulting event, the gymnast saw his left leg let go, with this terrible result: double tibia-fibula fracture. But against bad luck, the resident of the Antibes club has always had a good heart,claiming he would come back stronger. This will be the case with the flag in the hands during the opening ceremony, a great first for gymnastics which had never before had this honor in France.
Judo also in the spotlight for the Paralympics
Clarisse Agbegnenou, she was a big favorite in the company of Robert-Michon.
Five times world champion, Olympic vice-champion in Rio in 2016, the judokate is often presented as a Teddy Riner for women.
So what could be more logical that it succeeds the double Olympic champion in Tokyo, the country of judo ... Moreover, as a symbol, the Paralympic delegation, which will enter the track on August 24 (until September 5), will have, she too, a judokate as standard bearer, in the company of tennis player Stéphane Houdet, who himself succeeds another champion of the small yellow ball, Michaël Jérémiasz.
