Okay, unless you're a night owl or a sleepwalker, it's not easy to be up in France at 3:30 in the morning.
However, the up (very) early or the bed (very) late were largely rewarded by Florent Manaudou.
If you didn't have the courage to set the alarm clock on a Sunday, here's what you missed.
It is 3:31 am in Paris and the Olympic champion of the 50m in 2012 arrives very relaxed, with a broad smile, behind the stud of the water line n ° 5. At his side, the rocket Caeleb Dressel, huge favorite for the gold.
21''07 later, with an Olympic record, the American hits the first… ahead of the French (21''55).
🏊💥😍 Money in the 50m freestyle for Florent Manaudou!
🥈 He offers himself a third medal in three #Olympic Games over distance and the twentieth charm 🇫🇷 of the # Tokyo2020
Olympics Follow the Olympics live ▶ https://t.co/FQNUDtiQca pic.twitter.com/sXDY3wKcPI
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) August 1, 2021
The Marseille sprinter exults. He has just won his incredible bet and won the money, five years after that of Tokyo. Then congratulates the Brazilian Bruno Fratus, who completes the podium. Coming out of the water, the Habs do not immediately leave the pool and stop, towel around their neck, near the television area. His Danish partner Pernille Blume also enters the scene over 50 m NL.
“I was too happy, excited about my medal,” says Manaudou.
We had known for months that it would happen like this.
I told him:
don't watch my race
.
When you're a little emotional and in love, it's complicated to reswitch.
“Despite a spring disrupted by a severe Covid, Blume, title holder, snatches the bronze of happiness.
And rushes, already with tears in his eyes, to embrace her man tenderly.
Too bad for the mask!
“I'm so proud of him,” she smiles.
I never doubted, he is a very inspiring person.
"
"I'm happy with my personal trip"
The time to put on the regulatory tracksuit for the podium, the now quadruple Olympic medalist, keeps a large banana.
After weeks of doubt, he has just won his bet.
Blue-white-red flag on his shoulders, he goes around the Aquatics Center, savoring every moment.
Carpe Diem.
Manaudou regretted not having enjoyed his two silver medals (50m and 4 x 100m relay) in Rio.
After more than an hour of protocol, the French swimmer with the most medals at the Olympic Games appears in front of the media.
Finally, two meters away, as required by the distancing cleverly orchestrated by the Japanese organizers.
Unlike a week in (very calm) waters, it takes two trays to put phones and recorders which are then held in front of the athlete by a volunteer or a press officer.
“Not too heavy?
laughs Manaudou.
I am proud to have managed to take advantage of the moment.
I wanted to do this, I succeeded.
When I came back to swimming I said I wanted to have fun.
I got a little lost this year on the way because my perfs were not crazy and I am not doing an incredible race in terms of time, but it proves that that is enough and you should not ask yourself too many questions.
"
The result is not everything.
“Of course a medal is good but I'm happy with my personal trip because it was hard, frankly, he continues.
I told myself it couldn't be worse than the last few weeks.
Everyone told me:
I've never seen you swim so badly.
An outdoor internship in Antibes, the sun, the presence of Pernille, have changed the situation.
"95% of people didn't believe in me"
“I managed to tell myself that we train four years, ten years, fifteen years to live an Olympic final and in the end when we live it we are afraid, it's paradoxical.
The fact of putting into words that I wanted to enjoy, of repeating it, it's super important.
At one point it comes to mind.
Behind the stud I saw the end of the pool and I was happy while in Rio I said to myself: over
there it's over, finally.
"
The thirty-something never stops fiddling with his charm.
As if to touch on what he has just accomplished.
"It is better than in Brazil because there is a plane in front so it's hard to get it," he explains.
In Rio, I lose by a hundredth, it's different.
There are 95% of people who did not believe in me that boosted me too, I like that.
This medal is incredible.
Out of five Olympic finals I won four medals, that's cool, I'm proud of myself.
Now there is only good.
"
🇫🇷 FLORENT MANAUDOU VICE-OLYMPIC CHAMPION IN THE 50M FREE SWIM!
🏊♂️ The morning is on 😱
London 2012🥇
Rio 2016🥈
Tokyo 2020 🥈 # AllezLesBleus # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/l9mFCp9XYb
- France Team (@EquipeFRA) August 1, 2021
To the point of imagining already in Paris in three years?
“I would like to experience the Games in Paris in my country, admits the big blue, who will return to France in a few hours in the same plane (festive) as the French judo team, crowned Saturday in the mixed team.
I experienced the smallest of international competitions, the Euro petit bain in 2012, it was phew.
I don't know how my perf level will be, what trip I will have for three years, you never know but I want to experience the Games, that's undeniable.
"
Pernille passes behind him in the mixed zone.
Another little kiss.
"She put up with me a lot more than I put up with her," jokes Florent.
I was a little more annoying with her!
Being in a relationship like that, having two medals on the same Olympiad, on the same day at almost the same time, is phew… ”
