A shouting pass from the British, the Poles heading for the line, the French heading to the jury boat… The final of the Medal Race in 470 was completely crazy.
From there to almost jostling the general classification and therefore the podium.
The medal ceremony was even postponed for a few minutes to rule on the medals awarded.
Camille Lecointre and Aloïse Retornaz finally leave with bronze.
We explain to you in detail what happened.
What happened during the Medal Race?
Before attacking the last race, a point on the standings. The British are virtually assured of the gold medal. Behind the podium is played between the French, second, the Poles, just behind at 4 points, and Slovenia a little further. To come away with the silver medal, Lecointre and Retornaz must finish just behind the Skrzypulec / Ogar duo.
Everything is going well during the first rounds of the Medal Race. The Slovenes are no longer in the race for the podium. The British, first in the standings, attacked the last corner towards the finish line in 4th position. Behind Poland and France, fighting for the silver medal, follow each other. At this moment, the Mills / McIntyre tandem performs a funny maneuver, which allows the Poles to pass in front. “The British could continue their journey straight towards the buoy, and changed almost to 80 degrees. This let the Poles slip away when they were able to stay ahead, ”explained Guillaume Chielino, director of the French sailing team.
⛵ 🇫🇷 After the dubious maneuver of the Poles and the British which deprived the Bleues of the silver medal in 470, France protested, but without success ... It will be the bronze!
# Tokyo2020 #Olympic
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- francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 4, 2021
Results, crossing the finish line, the Poles cross the line in 4th position, just ahead of the British and then the French.
For the podium, never worried, the Mills / McIntyre duo won Olympic gold.
Behind, the Skrzypulec / Ogar tandem therefore steals the money, with the nose and the beard, of the tricolors who leave with the bronze… Until the protest.
Why did the French women lodge a complaint?
As soon as they arrive, Camille Lecointre and Aloïse Retornaz go to the jury boat to lodge a complaint.
The reason, the British maneuver would have been voluntarily done in favor of the Poles.
“We had doubts about the water.
We had the impression that it was done against us.
In sailing, you can lodge a complaint so that the jury decides, that's what happened ”, justified Aloïse Retornaz.
A feeling shared by the director of the French Sailing Team: “We had the feeling that the English women deliberately let the Poles pass.
"
#sailing # Tokyo2020
Following the last passage of the buoy, the French women are protesting against the English.
The jury is currently deliberating with the two crews…
This last regatta under Mount Fuji has not yet its last word….
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In addition to this questionable change of course, a small wave of the hand of one of the Poles gave the impression that a small gift had just been given to them from the British.
An unjustified controversy according to Guillaume Chielino: “The boats speak to each other in normal times as soon as there is priority for changes of course etc.
This is not a problem.
"The director of the French team preferred to salute the combativeness of his proteges:" The girls have just decided to fight to the end by making this claim.
A maneuver that the jury had not seen.
"
Regardless of the nature of this gesture, the French women still filed a complaint for the British maneuver to be reviewed.
“We made this complaint to have access to tracking and video because we had doubts about the way in which the British lost places.
It is a right to lodge a complaint, it should not be forgotten.
And when you play for a medal, you have to go to the end, ”said Camille Lecointre.
What medals could Lecointre and Retornaz hope for?
Doubt then runs through all the crews. While waiting, we see the French women jumping for joy, the British on the verge of tears (of joy or sadness?), And the Poles look a little crestfallen. At that point, all scenarios are still possible. Disqualification of the British and / or Poles, only on the Medal Race or on the whole competition… Suspense hangs over the podium. We even dreamed of a gold medal for Lecointre and Retornaz.
“It could have resulted in the disqualification of the British in the Medal Race.
We would therefore have recovered a place in this race and the silver medal.
I don't think it could go any further, ”admitted the DTN of the French Sailing Federation.
For its part, the jury took a long time to render its final decision.
45 minutes of suspense after crossing the line because of which the medal ceremony was even postponed.
Why was the complaint unsuccessful?
9.45 am, the final classification is validated. The positions remain unchanged. Camille Lecointre and Aloïse Retornaz leave for good with the bronze medal. The reason: the British maneuver was not seen as voluntary by the race juries. “This does not work in our favor but the jury decided to keep the positions of the Medal Race. They decided that there was no problem. She just sailed badly. It's part of the game, ”explained Aloïse Retornaz. Information confirmed by Guillaume Chielino in the wake: “The jury did not judge that the maneuver was intentional. "
⛵ 🇫🇷 Camille Lecointre and Aloïs Retornaz accept the decision of the judges who rejected their protest in 470. Les Bleues remain in bronze behind Great Britain 🇬🇧 and Poland 🇵🇱 # Tokyo2020 #Olympic
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- francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 4, 2021
A decision fully respected by the tricolor duo. “We do not question the jury's decision at all. We had a doubt. He is now up, "said Camille Lecointre before his teammate added:" We gave everything, that gives us bronze. We are very happy. It's an Olympic medal. It's a crazy thing. "A joy shared with the director of the French Sailing Team:" We are super happy to be a bronze medalist. We must not forget to celebrate it. "
