Paris (AFP)
Theophile and Valentin Onfroy qualified for the final of the World Rowing Championships in Linz / Ottensheim (Austria) on Friday, validating the ticket for the 2020 Olympic Games for this category of boat.
The 26 and 25-year-old brothers finished third in a hotly contested semifinal just behind New Zealand and Australia. If the siblings came close to the Oceanians, they could also have lost their 3rd place, qualifying for Sunday's final and direct sesame for Japan, under the pressure of the Romanians, fourth at only 60 / 100th.
Another French boat has secured its place for the Olympics: the two ladies, qualified, with the way, by Hélène Lefebvre and Elodie Ravera-Scaramozzino. After a fast start, the duo rose to 500 meters in 1st place, slipped to the 5th halfway before finishing very quickly, crossing the line in 2nd position behind the Roumaines and in front of the Americans.
For the men, the pair will have to go through the final B to hope to see Tokyo. Matthieu Androdias and Hugo Boucheron, reigning world champions, finished sixth and last in their semi-final, twenty seconds behind the Irish winners.
Titled in 2018 in Plovdid (Bulgaria), the duo is still looking for its best form. But, if they give up their world title, the two French can still qualify this boat for the Games, Sunday in the final B. For this, they must be in the first five boats, out of the six at the start.
Thursday, Laura Tarantola and Claire Bové qualified in two lightweight pairs for the final. Best chance of the tricolor rowing this week on the banks of the Danube, they will aim for a medal Saturday.
© 2019 AFP