The Tokyo Olympics began on the night of Friday to Saturday.
And with them, their share of French disappointments.
Several Blues on the bridge from the first day of these Japanese Games suffered premature setbacks, well before the possible medal they dreamed of.
From tennis to fencing through boxing and judo, an overview of the tricolor backhands that we did not expect so fast.
Read alsoFollow minute by minute the first day of the Tokyo Olympics
Herbert and Mahut at tennis
Big slap for tricolor tennis.
World number two in doubles and winners of Roland-Garros in June, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut were eliminated in the first round by the British pair Andy Murray-Joe Salisbury (6-3, 6-2).
A huge disappointment for the tricolor duo, already released in the first round of the Rio Olympics, where they were also among the favorites.
Hit in the thigh at Wimbledon, Herbert had wanted to reassure his state of health before attacking the Olympic tournament.
At 39, Nicolas Mahut, who has always dreamed of shining at the Games, has undoubtedly said goodbye to his last chance to climb on an Olympic podium.
Vitalis and Apithy at fencing
Short day for the French in fencing, with two athletes leaving the entrance. Coming with legitimate ambitions, Coraline Vitalis with the sword and Boladé Apithy with the saber were taken out. The Guadeloupe, European champion in 2019, was dominated by the Estonian Julia Beljajeva (15-5). “She had a game that did not suit me, but I should have started the game better to be able to at least hang it, slipped the young woman of 22 years. It's frustrating, but I had no solutions. "
Apithy, sixth in the world, suffered the law of Iranian Mohammad Rahbari (15-13).
Beaten and without a team event on his agenda, the Burgundian swordsman will board the plane back to Paris on Sunday, as required by health protocol.
“This is especially what is frustrating.
You arrive, you do your competition and then you leave the next day because you do not have the right to stay in the village, regrets the 35-year-old fencer.
Obviously I'm disappointed, but not as if I was 20 and these were my first Games, at my age I put things in perspective.
"
Boukli in judo
The support of Emmanuel Macron did not help him. Under the eyes of the President of the Republic who arrived in Japan the day before, the 2020 European champion Shirine Boukli was released as soon as she entered the competition in the - 48 kg category. Eliminated after three penalties, the Frenchwoman who came to fetch gold from Nippon Budokan did not take offense to these arbitration decisions when she left the tatami.
“I do not understand why the last penalty falls, I supposedly grab the pants while I am at the hip, I do not understand, railed the Frenchwoman.
I have the other hand on the belt or above, I do not grab the pants.
I do not understand what happened, the young 22-year-old judokate annoyed.
I was as usual, I don't think I put any barriers because it was the Olympics.
I made sure not to be too much of a fan of this event.
I approached her as a competitor like the others.
That it ends so quickly is special.
"
Kitsohurry in boxing
In the ring too, there was Tricolore back up.
Engaged in - 57 kg, the French Samuel Kistohurry was subjected to the law of the American boxer Duke Ragan on the decision of the judges at the end of a fight that he thought he had mastered.
“I put on some speed and I think I won the second and third round by a wide margin.
I'm disgusted to be eliminated, I don't understand, he lost his temper once out of the ring as his opponent shouted at him.
The American refused the fight, he was not at the level, he is not a class boxer.
"
☮️ OLYMPIC SPIRIT ⁉️
🥊 After beating Frenchman Samuel Kistohurry on points, boxer Duke Ragan sent him a ... double middle finger! # Tokyo2020 #JeuxOlympiques #HomeOfTheOlympics pic.twitter.com/n2ZO4IeAKL
- Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) July 24, 2021
An assertion validated by the interested party. When leaving the combat area, Duke Ragan sent a double finger of honor to the Girondin.