Sport is both beautiful and cruel.
For nearly forty minutes, Tess Ledeux swam in happiness on Tuesday.
After her first two jumps, “a double cork 1620” and a “switch 1440”, the Frenchwoman dominated the Big Air final.
Then everything changed.
While there were three women left to set off for the final attempt, including Tess Ledeux, the charm was already assured and we could not imagine anything other than gold for the skier from La Plagne.
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But, that's when Eileen Gu, third, released "the double cork 1620".
A figure that she had never attempted before and that Tess Ledeux was the only one to succeed in competition until then.
But the Chinese-American has too much talent and she managed to land this jump perfectly on the first try.
Which propelled the local star into the lead as Tess Ledeux was about to start.
Read alsoJO: Was Tess Ledeux stolen by the judges for the Olympic title?
And everything changed.
The Frenchwoman, who had been wearing a pretty smile until then, tensed up, as if dejected by what had just happened before her eyes.
Almost distraught.
Aware that she could not improve her grades, which were already very high.
Tess Ledeux then rushed forward and missed her jump.
Then in the finish area, tears welled up and she collapsed.
Gold was so close (0.75 points).
The 20-year-old skier was quickly consoled by the Swiss Mathilde Gremaud, third in the event.
But a few minutes later, the smile was back on Tess Ledeux's face on the podium.
Because getting an Olympic medal is not given to everyone.