Tokyo (AFP)
The ten works of the French Hercules Kevin Mayer began at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday: the holder of the world record in the decathlon is eagerly awaited, since it represents one of the rare chances of a medal in French athletics.
Since his silver medal in Rio in 2016, Mayer has become the world benchmark in decathlon with his world record and his planetary coronation in 2017, but he has not fully validated his status in major events with withdrawals. as during the last World Championship in particular.
"I train hard every day, I give my life to the decathlon. I would like to be an Olympic champion but above all, I would like to have a very good decathlon. Since 2018, this has not happened", a- he explained to AFP before arriving in Tokyo.
For his introduction to these Olympics postponed for a year due to the pandemic and disputed behind closed doors, Mayer completed his 100 m in 10 sec 68 / 100th (personal best, 10 sec 50 / 100th), synonymous with 9th place after the first of its ten events.
He then managed a jump to 7.50 m to reposition himself in provisional 4th place.
On the program of his first day, which started in an oppressive humid heat, are still the weight, the height and the 400 m.
- Beaumont in the semi-final -
After the failures on Tuesday of Renaud Lavillenie on pole vault (8th and injured), Alexandra Tavernier at the foot of the podium with the hammer and Wilhem Belocian eliminated in the 110m hurdles series, the French podium chances at the Olympic stadium do not depend only on the broad shoulders of Mayer.
2019 vice-champion of the hammer throw, Quentin Bigot made a strong impression in qualifying on Monday with his throw to 78.73 m on the 2nd try, the fourth best throw of his career.
Its final is scheduled at 8:15 p.m. local (1:15 p.m. French).
Still at the Olympic stadium, the 200 m final promises to be explosive (9:55 p.m. local, 2:55 p.m. French) with three Americans including the sensation Erriyon Knighton, 17 years old and presented as the new Usain Bolt of the world sprint.
To advance the French medal counter in Tokyo (24 medals), it will be necessary to turn to the Enoshima lake, south of Tokyo, and sailing, with Camille Lecointre and Aloïse Retornaz, second before the final. Olympic regatta in 470.
American Erriyon Knighton after the 200m semi-finals on August 3, 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics Jewel SAMAD AFP
A traditional provider of French Olympic medals, the French show jumping team will have only one representative in the individual final from 7 p.m. local (12 p.m. French) with Nicolas Delmotte, while Pénélope Leprévost and Matthieu Billot have bit the dust in qualifying.
It was also the entry into the running of the indestructible Maxime Beaumont, 39 years old and 2016 Olympic vice-champion in line kayaking: he finished 2nd and easily qualified for the semi-finals in K1 over 200 m scheduled. Thursday.
"In this basin, anything is possible, the hardest part will be to go to the final, once in the final everything will be possible," warned the Northerner.
- Bassa Mawem package -
After the impressive success of the men's basketball, handball and volleyball teams, all qualified for the last four, the handball Bleues, Olympic vice-champions in Rio, will try to imitate them: they are opposed to the Dutch in the quarterfinals. final (8:45 p.m. local, 1:45 p.m. French).
French Bassa Mawem during the climbing difficulty test, August 3, 2021 at the Tokyo Olympic Games MOHD RASFAN AFP
Also to follow is the skateboard park event with the youngest of the French delegation Madeleine Larcheron (15 years old) and the British prodigy Sky Brown (13 years old), as well as the climbing qualifications with Julia Charnoudie.
Qualified for Thursday's men's climbing final, Bassa Mawem was forced to forfeit due to a serious injury to his left arm, a total rupture of the lower biceps tendon.
And no medal in the open water swimming event for Lara Grangeon, who finished 9th on Wednesday morning.
© 2021 AFP