Special envoy to Tokyo
To discover
The full Olympic program
The Olympic medal table
Taekwondo, a loyal supplier of Olympic medals to France. Since its introduction into the Games program during the 2000 edition in Sydney, after having been a simple demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992, the discipline has always smiled on the Blues. Pascal Gentil (bronze in 2000 and 2004, Myriam Baverel (silver in 2004), Gwladys Epangue (bronze in 2008), Anne-Caroline Graffe (silver) and Marlène Harnois (bronze) in 2012, Haby Niaré (silver in 2016)… No an edition of the Olympic Games without France not leaving at least with a podium. Except that Monday, the failure of Magda Wiet Henin, beaten from the start, placed heavy pressure on the only other qualified member for Tokyo, Althea Laurin , only 19. But obviously not impressed by the rings.
To read also: “Destroyed” a year ago, how Clarisse Agbegnenou was able to return to the top
Althea Laurin bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
MURAD SEZER / REUTERS
Despite her young age and the fact that this is her first Games, the Frenchwoman has indeed shown an almost surprising serenity over the laps.
Especially before her quarter-final against the Chinese Zheng Shuyin, neither more nor less than the reigning Olympic champion of whom she said, before challenging her.
“
She's very strong on her front leg, she manages to find openings in her head and body.
But I think that if I apply my strategy well, I can manage this fight, even if in sport nothing is certain
”.
A speech that could have been boastful except that behind, the taekwondoist of Asnières assumed perfectly by outclassing the Chinese head and shoulders (14-6).
A performance that she welcomed without particular euphoria: “
The competition is never played even when we released a seed.
It's positive, but we have to stay focused on the future and on my big goal which remains gold
”.
Olympic Games: all the French medalists in pictures
Go to the slideshow (6)
Before falling unfortunately on the Olympic champion of… 2012, the Serbian Milica Mandic, true grave-digger of the French dreams of gold since it was she who had beaten in the final Anne-Caroline Graffe. Here again, the Serbian was ruthless, dominating Laurin with a short head (5 points to 7). Disappointed, the French then came close to the worst during her match for 3rd place, after a first one-sided act (6 points to 2) in favor of the Ivorian Aminata Traoré. Except that she had given everything during her initial two minutes on the physical level, turning the following two rounds into a lone rider for a Laurin who ultimately won without trembling (17 points to 8). And without exulting, his happiness remaining inside. European Champion in December 2020,it was rather expected for Paris 2024 but the postponement of one year of the Tokyo Games gave him the opportunity to get ahead and not wait to get on an Olympic podium.
