Tokyo Olympics: French foilists gold medalists after sweeping the Russians

French fencing therefore finished in style in Tokyo with a 5th medal.

And not just any!

Winners (45-28) of the Russians in the final, the foilists of the men's team - Erwann Le Péchoux, Enzo Lefort, and Julien Mertine, adorned themselves with gold, and in an authoritarian manner.

For the first two, it is the most beautiful revenge after the money in 2016 and the defeat in the final against this same Russia.

IN PATRONS.

The French men's foil team, Olympic champion!

🔥🔥🔥🥇🇫🇷 @EquipeFRA #TokyoOlympics #MerciErwann pic.twitter.com/aTMDiB8SSW

- French Fencing Federation (@ffescrime) August 1, 2021

“The trauma of Rio was very present, smiles Enzo Lefort, interviewed by rance Télévisions.

We were aware of the Russian threat.

There was no question of leaving them the slightest touch.

“The demonstration of the France team, which has always been in the lead, proved the marksman of Melun right, impeccable like his comrades.

The medal was already no longer any doubt for the Blues since the semi-final won (45-42) a little earlier against Japan, surprising fallers of Italy in the quarterfinals (45-43).

So it remained to be seen what color the metal around their necks would be.

Not easy to make a prediction before the fight, each of the shooters in both camps having failed in the individual tournament played six days ago.

On the French side, Lefort, eliminated in the quarters, had managed to rank in the top ten (5th), while Mertine had finished in 24th place.

Le Péchoux, who was playing his last major international competition this Saturday at 39, had been saved for the team event.

Among the Russians, only Kirill Borodachev had saved the honor with a modest 8th place.

A final mastered from start to finish

As against the Japanese, the French bite from the start.

Le Péchoux, then Mertine offer five points ahead of the Blues (10-5).

The following stint between Enzo Lefort and Timur Safin resonates with bad Brazilian memories, but the 29-year-old Guadeloupe, reigning world champion, ensures (15-8).

In Rio, the France team led by nine touches (25-16) before losing.

It remained to not relive the same nightmare.

Anton Borodachev, who represents at 21 years old with his twin brother the revival of Russian fencing, gives hope to his delegation (18-15).

Le Péchoux maintains the gap (18-15), then Lefort (28-21) and Mertine (35-23) widen the gap.

Before handing over the last stint to the team's veteran, Enzo Lefort tells him that victory must be assured in the head.

Le Péchoux concludes: the Blues are Olympic champions.

🏅🇫🇷💪 # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/pZ7telqzhV

- Nando (@NandoChachalana) August 1, 2021

“When we shoot like that, we are above,” comments Erwann Le Péchoux at the microphone of Rance Télévisions.

We could have beaten anyone.

It is for me a beautiful end.

I am delighted to share this moment with this incredible team.

"

This is the 8th time that the French men's team foil has climbed to the highest step of the Olympic podium.

We have to go back to the Sydney Games in 2000 to find the latest one.

More than twenty years ago, Jean-Noël Ferrari, Brice Guyart (commentator in Tokyo on France Télévisions), Lionel Plumenail (one of the two coaches of the France team) and Patrice Lhôtellier had beaten China in the final .

The tricolor fencing therefore leaves Tokyo with five medals: gold for Romain Cannone (individual épée) and therefore men's foil, silver for the women's foil and saber teams, and bronze for Manon Brunet.

After this success, France therefore has 21 medals in total.