Tokyo (AFP)

In the aftermath of an exciting Olympic day, with gold from Steven Da Costa in karate, silver from Kevin Mayer and the qualifications of basketball players, handball players and volleyball players in the finals, that of Friday started badly for the Blues with the abandonment of walker Yohann Diniz.

The Blues, who have 27 medals, including 7 in gold, hope that "Yoyo" will not set the scene for this still very hot day in the Japanese capital.

Especially since the handball players and basketball players can imitate the boys, who on Thursday qualified the three teams of "BHV", basketball hand-volleyball, for their final.

- the extra run -

At 43, Diniz ended his long career sitting on a sidewalk in Sapporo, shortly after the mid-race of his final outing, the 50 km walk.

World champion in 2017 and world record holder since 2014, Diniz will never have shone at the Olympics despite four participations and still high hopes (retirement in 2008 and 2020, disqualification in 2012, 8th in 2016).

"It was the competition too many, the Olympiad too many," said Diniz shortly after his retirement in this race - like all those of marches and marathons - relocated 1000 km north of Tokyo to avoid the heat of the Japanese capital.

But at 5:30 am, the start was given in Sapporo under 26 degrees and nearly 85% humidity!

"I quickly felt that I was tired, that I had no legs at all, I had pain in the adductor, in the back, I did not have good feelings, I had trouble with it my breathing ", regretted the Rémois.

"Physically, my body was not responding," said Diniz, who ended his career at the same time as this very long ordeal which disappeared from the Olympic program.

For history, the last Olympic champion is called Dawid Tomala and he is Polish.

- 2nd FRA-USA under the baskets?

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For the handball players (5 p.m. local, 10 a.m. French), the key against Sweden will be defense and a certain confidence, since the Scandinavians have not beaten the Habs since 2014.

But be careful all the same since the French were hooked during the 1st round in Tokyo with a draw (28-28) which could have been a victory without a missed penalty at the last second.

Under the baskets, the French coach Valérie Garnier are aiming for the final and a possible royal opposition against the United States, like the men, the Everest of basketball.

French basketball players Endene Miyem and Japanese basketball players Himawari Akaho during the group match of the Tokyo Olympics on July 24, 2021 at Saitama Aris MESSINIS POOL / AFP / Archives

But before that, it is the Japanese who stand in their way (8:00 p.m. local, 1:00 p.m. French).

And if the Japanese have no line on their charts, they have proven that the "house" effect, even behind closed doors, plays.

The proof, they had surprised the Blue during the first group match.

After the Diniz fiasco, athletics will offer a festival of finals on Friday, six in the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and one in Sapporo (20 km ladies walk).

Few French people are concerned, but the girls in the 4x100m and Jimmy Gressier in the 5000m will have their say.

In pentathlon, the French missed their first day, and in particular Elodie Clouvel (24th), yet in silver in Rio.

But the second day, and in particular the spectacular last event which, on the principle of biathlon, mixes running and shooting, can hold surprises, even a miracle.

The case of Belarusian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, this athlete threatened with being forcibly repatriated to Belarus after having criticized the sports bodies of her country during the Olympics and refugee in Poland since Thursday, experienced a new episode on Friday.

The Olympic accreditations of two coaches of the Belarusian delegation, Artur Shimak and Yuri Maisevich, have been withdrawn for their role in this case.

© 2021 AFP