Tokyo (AFP)

Charline Picon, Olympic champion in 2016 in Rio, failed by nothing in her quest for a double, winning the silver medal in RS: X windsurfing at the Tokyo Olympics, imitated an hour later by Thomas Goyard on Saturday in Enoshima.

The 36-year-old Charentaise, assured of a podium before the start of the thirteenth and final race, won the final regatta but had to lose for gold against China's Lu Yunxiu, who crossed the line in third position.

Briton Emma Wilson, 2nd in this final round, completed the podium, after a disputed round in light winds (wind of 5 to 6 knots).

An hour later, in the same light conditions (wind of 5 to 6 knots), the New Caledonian Thomas Goyard, for his first Games, also won the silver despite his disqualification for having anticipated the start.

In total, three competitors were even disqualified in this "medal race" while the Dutchman Kiran Badloe, wearing a magnificent blue crest, was assured of the title even before the start.

Chinese Bi Kun took the bronze medal.

At 36 years old, on the 4th birthday of her daughter Lou, Charline Picon thus becomes the first Frenchwoman to win two Olympic medals in sailing at the Olympic Games, under the eyes of Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee of the Paris Olympics - 2024.

- "Best possible race"

"I had the best possible race today. It was necessary to be damn solid because the conditions were very hard, very hot, no wind, only physical", reacted the Frenchwoman, a red white blue flag on the shoulders in the interview area.

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"I am proud of the race I did. I actually believed at one point that it was going to be gold because the Chinese was a little further but here it is money", added the one. who started windsurfing in La Tremblade (Charente-Maritime) before joining a sailing study sport at the age of 17 in La Rochelle where she met the trainer who still follows her, Cédric Leroy.

Third at the start of this "medal race" reserved for the first ten and at the end of which the points count double, Picon, who was 6 points behind the Chinese had to outrun his two opponents.

In the lead on the last two legs, the Frenchwoman, also multiple world medalist, completed an almost perfect round in light conditions that suited her, but had to bow to the Chinese she had designated as her main rival. .

Since her return to competition in 2018, after the birth of her daughter, she has been on the podium in three of the last four Worlds: 2nd in 2018, 2nd in 2020 and 3rd in 2021.

Windsurfing has often smiled on the French at the Olympics.

Before Picon crowned in 2016 in Rio, Faustine Merret had become Olympic windsurfing champion in 2004 in Athens as well as Franck David in 1992 in Barcelona.

© 2021 AFP