A first mixed pair to wear the colors of France.

As the world of sport advances slowly towards parity, France has chosen two athletes, male and female, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) now allows, to wear the country's colors at the Tokyo Olympics ( July 23-August 8).

This choice of a mixed duo, announced Monday July 5 on France 2, was also retained by other nations, such as Italy, Greece and Japan. 

Appointed by a vote of "ambassadors" of the Olympic federations, Clarisse Agbegnenou, 28, and Samir Aït Saïd, 31, will succeed judo star Teddy Riner, flag bearer in Rio in 2016, in search of a third historic Olympic coronation.

It is the first time that a gymnast will take the French Olympic delegation.  

The flag bearers for the Paralympic Games, which will take place from August 24 to September 5, were chosen by a public vote by internet: they are Sandrine Martinet (judo) and Stéphane Houdet (tennis).  

Sandrine Martinet (para judo) and Stephane Houdet (wheelchair tennis) will lead the athletes during the Paralympic Games which will start on August 24.

© Pierre René-Worms

The announcement was made on France 2 and the athletes then went to the CNOSF (French National Olympic and Sports Committee) which elected a week ago exactly Brigitte Henriques, the first woman to hold this position since the creation of the body. in 1972. 

Among the candidates to carry the flag were heavyweights: swimmer Florent Manaudou and pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, crowned Olympic champions in London in 2012, or discus thrower Mélina Robert-Michon, silver medalist in Rio and already five Olympic editions on the clock.  

Clarisse Agbegnenou reigns over the -63kg category.

Crowned world champion for the first time in 2014 and Olympic vice-champion in 2016, it was during the Olympiad that led from Rio to Tokyo that she built one of the most extensive achievements in history of French judo.  

Seek the gold medal “with a smile” 

Since 2017, she has left only crumbs to her opponents, winning the four world titles at stake, the most recent in June, plus three continental titles (2018, 2019 and 2020). Only Olympic gold is missing from the one who had thought to "stop everything" at the announcement of the postponement of the Olympics. "With Samir, we will bring joy and good humor", commented the champion on France 2. "It brings me," she added, explaining wanting to go get the gold medal "with the pleasure and smile ".  

Very present on social networks, Agbegnenou documents his life at 100 per hour and his commitments, especially for the cause of women.

She has indeed developed a partnership with a brand of menstrual panties or posed on one of the Team Magazine for a report on the breasts of sportswomen.  

Return from injury 

Samir Aït Saïd, specialist of the rings, had him finished the Rio Games in the hospital, after having broken his left leg in a spectacular way on the reception of a jump. Four years before, he had not been able to participate in the London Olympics due to a previous injury. "It is a pride to wear a whole nation and a pseudo revenge," commented the gymnast, whose rebound capacity and willpower are unanimously hailed. A follower of combat sports, he integrated boxing and Brazilian jujitsu into his preparation. 

His rival on the rings will be the Greek Eleftherios Petrounias, reigning Olympic champion, also the flag bearer of his country's delegation.

Certainly for now, Clarisse Agbegnenou and Samir Aït Said will enter the Olympic stadium in Tokyo on July 23, but details on the opening ceremony are still kept confidential.

Pandemic obliges, it promises to be more sober than the disproportionate shows of the previous Olympics, and the number of spectators authorized to attend has not yet been fixed but could be very limited. 

With AFP

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