The IOC's position had become untenable. Under pressure from athletes and federations around the world, the International Olympic Committee finally agreed on Tuesday to postpone the Tokyo Olympics for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The vast majority of French athletes, many of whom had to put their preparation on hold, welcomed a "logical" decision.
"It's the best decision that has been made," reacted to Europe 1 Florent Manaudou, who came out of retirement to aim for gold at the Tokyo Games. "We have been waiting for a week. It was hard to try to train to say that the Games were in four months. But it's positive, I will have one more year to prepare" , nevertheless positivized the Olympic champion in the 50 m freestyle in 2012, and vice-champion in 2016.
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"We have a bigger fight to win before"
Teddy Riner, double Olympic judo champion, said on Twitter that "we have a much bigger fight to win before".
Tokyo, see you in 2021.
We have a bigger fight to win before
See you in 2021, Tokyo.
First, we have to win a huge fight # Tokyo2021 # ResterChezVous # StayAtHomepic.twitter.com / 1tvO7ubu6G
Elodie Clouvel, Olympic vice-champion of modern pentathlon in Rio in 2016, says she "shed tears as she said goodbye to Tokyo 2020". "It is with the same desire and determination that I will be there in 2021," she added.
I shed tears when I said goodbye to Tokyo 2020 but it is with the same determination and desire that I would be there in 2021.
In 2020 the medals will go to the nursing staff who work every day to fight this virus. They are the Olympic champions # Tokyo2021pic.twitter.com / sWUhmwx7DL
Decathlon world record holder and reigning Olympic vice-champion Kevin Mayer wrote on Instagram in English: "No problem, we can wait. Stay safe."
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No problem, we can wait. # Tokyo2021 Stay safe everyone
A publication shared by Mayer Kevin (@ mayer.deca) on March 24, 2020 at 7:03 am PDT
"Common sense prevailed", for Yohann Diniz
Yohann Diniz, world record holder for the 50 km walk and in search of a first Olympic medal, estimated that "common sense prevailed", also on Instagram.
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Here, common sense prevailed! It was normal to postpone the Olympic games until next year because the first emergency is to eradicate this pandemic! We are now certain about the holding of the Olympic Games! For my part, I will continue my preparation and I will start the 50 km of the French championships in Gien in order to reconnect with the distance and try to make a last nice time! Then, I await the date of the Olympic 50 km to be able to plan the preparation better and try to end my career in style !!! Thank you for your support Yo That's it, common sense has prevailed! It was normal to postpone the Olympic Games until next year because the first emergency is to eradicate this pandemic! We now have certainties about the Olympics! For my part, I will continue my preparation and I will start the 50 km of the French championships in Gien in order to reconnect with the distance and try to make a nice last lap! Then I wait for the date of the Olympic 50 km to be able to plan the best preparation and try to finish my career in style !!! Thank you for your support Yo #newfeel #decathlon #teammichelin #laposte #welcoop #punchpowerofficiel #garminfrance #oakley #ffathletisme #efsra #danasport #iaaf #franceolympique #cio # tokyo2020 # gien2020 #reims #lamarne #papyvarienlacher #lap
A publication shared by yohanndiniz (@yohanndiniz) on March 24, 2020 at 7:27 am PDT
Christophe Lemaître, bronze medalist in 200 m in Rio, the decision to postpone the Olympics is "logical". "Leaving them in the summer was impossible, our preparation was truncated. So it's not surprising," said the sprinter to AFP.
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