Four years of preparations undermined by a sewing defect.
Antoine Gérard launched his Beijing Games this Wednesday, on the normal springboard of the Nordic combined.
But the test was cut short for the French: after his first jump, the jury noticed a hole in his suit, which earned him an immediate disqualification.
He therefore did not take part in the second part, cross-country skiing.
🇬🇧 End of the Nordic combined.
Here is the ranking of our Blues at the end of the 10km:
18. Mattéo Baud
28. Laurent Muhlethaler
31. Gael Blondeau
Antoine Gérard was disqualified after the ski jump.#AllezLesBleus #Pekin2022 pic.twitter.com/ufbDRYf5eH
– Team France (@EquipeFRA) February 9, 2022
“He is very unlucky, said his teammate Mattéo Baud (18th in the end).
We have controls at the top of the springboard, we have to go up our suit to take the measurement.
And unfortunately, she cracked at the hip, it was seen directly.
Downstairs they saw the hole.
But it's not his fault.
The rules are very strict, you really have to be careful.
»
A second chance on Tuesday
“It's something that happens, abounded another member of the France team, Gaël Blondeau (31st).
The seam broke, there's not much you can do about it.
It disadvantages the athlete to have a hole.
We lose tension in the combination, you leave with a handicap.
But the rules are the rules.
“My suit broke just before the start, confirmed Antoine Gérard to La Croix.
We are not allowed to jump with a hole.
The jury saw it, it's on the side.
»
The Vosgien was already not very satisfied with his jump, measured at 84.5m and which would have hardly allowed him to play for the top of the ranking.
He will have the opportunity to do better on a large hill on Tuesday before the team event on Thursday.
