Paris (AFP)

Clarisse Agbegnenou honored her role as flag-bearer: the triple world champion and 2016 Olympic judo vice-champion once again raised to the highest French colors by offering a fourth European crown in -63 kg, as part of the European Games, Sunday in Minsk.

Margaux Pinot, up from -63 kg to -70 kg last year, imitated a few minutes later by getting her first ever continental title.

Now double world champion in title (2017 and 2018, after a first title in 2014) and double European champion in title (2018 and 2019, after two first titles in 2013 and 2014), at 26, Agbegnenou accentuates another little more her grip on the Olympiad that leads to Tokyo in 2020, where she will claim Olympic gold.

The world No.1 in her category, who had not fought since early February when she was injured in the final of the Grand Slam of Paris (sprain acromioclavicular) - which did not prevent him from winning - is undefeated for eighteen months. The last defeat of the leader of the French women's judo dates back to December 2017, in the semifinals of the Masters (against Tashiro).

In the Belarusian capital, Agbegnenou won his four bouts by ippon, the latter at the expense of Britain's Alice Schlesinger in less than two minutes.

"It's beautiful, I have not fought since February and I needed to find my bearings a bit, I feel like I'm on the right track, when I'm doing the remake of the day in my head, I was not bad at all ", welcomed the now quadruple champion of Europe at the microphone of L'Equipe.

- Congratulated by Riner -

"I respected my status (flag bearer), I'm very happy, I did not have this medal yet (European Games) at home, I'm very, very proud to bring it back." She is very beautiful , very heavy, and I think it says a lot for the future, "she said.

"Flag bearer and gold medalist at the Minsk European Games, keenly Tokyo-2020 ma Clacla and bravo", on Twitter honored the two-time Olympic heavyweight champion Teddy Riner, absent from the European Championships but whose the return to competition is expected in the coming weeks.

Less flamboyant than Agbegnenou, Pinot (25 years, -70 kg) is nevertheless also on the top step of the podium. The tricolor judoka won four of her five penalties, including the final against Dutchman Sanne Van Dijke, after almost 1:30 in the golden score (the extra time after the four minutes of fighting).

With the two titles Agbegnenou and Pinot, the French judo now has three medals, after the bronze won by Amandine Buchard in -52 kg the day before.

Marie-Eve Gahié (22), vice-world champion in -70 kg, failed at the foot of the podium (5th), beaten successively in the semifinals, then in fight for a third place.

On the men's side, the two men of the day, Guillaume Chaine (-73 kg) and Alpha Djalo (-81 kg), were beaten in their first fight.

? 2019 AFP