Skateboarding made its debut as an Olympic sport this Sunday morning in Tokyo.
Vincent Milou and Aurélien Giraud, the two French representatives, believed in a medal but they finished 4th and 6th respectively in the final.
The two riders are happy with this experience, despite a final that did not meet their expectations and the very trying weather conditions which did not help the competitors.
From our special correspondent,
We went there a bit to bluff, and we did not regret. At worst, it would make a great discovery, we said to each other. But we got a little more than that on Sunday morning at Ariake's urban park, for the big premiere of skateboarding at the Olympics. Vincent Milou and Aurélien Giraud, the two French representatives, managed to make us vibrate and believe in a medal, before collapsing under the dodger of the midday.
It took some, however, to get us into the game. Our scale of expertise in skateboarding when we landed this morning facing Tokyo Bay: it's beautiful / it's super beautiful / outch it must hurt that.
Plus a few afternoons spent on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, at a time when we said to ourselves that the responsibilities of adults, we would leave them to others all our lives.
The two tricolor skaters were able to do it, like their comrades elsewhere, even if we would be lying to say that we looked at them so assiduously.
33 ° C felt 64 (at least)
Snowy, entered in the first qualifying series, got us into it at 8:30 am, quickly taking the lead. Clear process to reach the final, in any case after a good half hour of observing the thing: each athlete is entitled to two runs of 45 seconds, during which he is free to perform the number and type of figures of his choice. , and five tricks (tricks to be performed in one try). Of the seven scores obtained (out of 10), the three less good are removed. The total of the remaining four is used to establish the ranking.
But if the Bayonnais was strong, what to say about Giraud, the only one not to have tasted asphalt throughout his series (except for the last jump which he used to try a figure).
Result, our two Frenchies make 1 and 5 of the qualifiers, everything is rolling.
Time to go debrief with the leader - "not slept very well", "the pressure", "the Olympics is big", "but super well spent", "looking forward to the final" -, we runs to throw himself in the air conditioning before it starts again.
Not an ounce of shade on the whole site when the thermometer reads 33 ° C (felt 64) and 70% humidity at 10 am, it's harsh.
Disappointment, but no regrets
Three bottles of water later, it starts again.
The counters are reset, but we believe it hard.
Unfortunately, things will turn sour very quickly.
While everyone is melting - a 12:30 final, seriously?
-, Snowy and Giraud miss their runs on entry, and will never recover, despite a little jump from the first on his tricks.
He takes fourth place, his compatriot sixth.
“There was a little fatigue, pressure, and then the fact of being qualified first, we take an excess of confidence, lists Giraud.
We tell ourselves that we will do the same again easily, so we lose our focus a bit.
It does not forgive.
"
No regrets, however. "I remember the very good moment spent, assures Milou a few minutes later. I had a blast, really. A little disappointed to do 4 but whatever in the end, I had fun. " We do want to believe it. It is the impression that he gave, in any case, throughout this event, to play a little with the meager public made up of the staff of the athletes and to laugh with his competitors.
That was one of the challenges of that day, too.
Skateboarding is a free discipline par excellence.
Was he going to lose part of his soul by squeezing himself a bit to get into the nails of the IOC?
Not even, answer our French.
“I am pleasantly surprised,” says Vincent Milou.
For us, the rings are the opposite of our mentality, but I was really taken by the thing, it was awesome.
If in Paris it's also good, I'm up for it again!
"
"Can't wait to relive it" in Paris
The only wish is to start at a time that best suits the riders' way of life.
“We were on the site at 6 am, that never happens in skateboarding,” says Snowy.
Exhausted at the end of the final, Giraud could only confirm.
“The heat was also extremely disturbing.
At this temperature, I am normally at the beach, on my towel, ”says the Lyonnais, who has been seen roasting on the platform where the athletes wait their turn before setting off.
However, the latter will retain an “unforgettable experience”.
“I can't wait to relive this!
But without Covid if possible, and then I would like not to end up in the same state at the end, ”he adds, a jacket full of ice cubes on his back.
A few degrees less and a medal more in Paris, we agree.
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