The sporting events that should not be missed, the summary of the five major football championships and the image of the weekend... Here is the France 24 sports recap.

The French biathlon at the top

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 the French biathlon team carried out a collective demonstration during the World Championships organized in Nove Mesto, in the Czech Republic. On the girls' side, the French Julia Simon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot carried out a real raid. They won eight individual medals out of twelve at stake. The title in the women's relay also fell into the French hands for the first time in history at the World Championships. This performance, combined with podiums in mixed, mixed singles and men's relay and Quentin Fillon Maillet's bronze medal in the mass start to finish these Worlds, allows France to total thirteen medals, including six titles. The French team thus improves its best total dating back to the 2016 Worlds in Oslo (eleven medals, including six titles, the single mixed relay was not on the program).

The two French marathon records broken

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 Morhad Amdouni and Méline Rollin beat the French marathon records on Sunday February 18 in Seville by respectively completing the 42.195 kilometers in 2 h 03 min 47 sec and 2 h 24 min 12 (time unofficial). Fourth Frenchman in the Valencia marathon in December 2023 and therefore not a priority for the Olympic selection, Morhad Amdouni knew that he had to put out a big time on Sunday if he wanted to continue dreaming of the Games in Paris. A few minutes after him, Méline Rollin doubled the lead for the French clan by finishing seventh in the women's race won by the Ethiopian Azmera Gebru.

A lackluster All-Star Game

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The Eastern Conference selection dominated the stars of the West 211 to 186, for a record points, during a particularly flat NBA All-Star Game played on Sunday in Indianapolis. The all-star game, without any real stakes, is a show that highlights the best players in the league since 1951. The lack of intensity of the meeting is a habit, even if it is sometimes contradicted by a small increase in pressure at the end of the meeting. But not this time. Some players had difficulty masking their disinterest in the match, played while walking. The stars of the League thus multiplied the shots from distance (67 successful out of 168 attempted in total) and dunks without opposition.

A first title for Paris Basketball:

a week after the inauguration of its new cocoon (the Arena Porte de la Chapelle) in the north of Paris

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Paris Basketball began to fill its trophy cabinet by winning the derby against Nanterre (90-85) in the final of the Leaders Cup on Sunday, the first title in its young history. Manhandled in the last quarter and in fact trailing until 3 and a half minutes from time, the Parisians took back control thanks to a lay-up from Nadir Hifi enhanced with a free throw.

OM sinks, PSG flies away

Brest, reduced to ten, nevertheless triumphed over Olympique Marseille once again in crisis (1-0), seizing second place in the Ligue 1 standings thanks to the failure of beaten Monaco by Toulouse (2-1), Sunday during the 22nd day of the championship. OM are sinking more than ever into the soft underbelly of the ranking (9th, 30 points), after this sixth match in a row without a victory in the league.

The front page of the L'Équipe newspaper for Monday February 19



Read the edition > https://t.co/Y9roZ3oHGq pic.twitter.com/XMXWyxCyk0

— L’ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) February 19, 2024

Returning on the hour mark, Kylian Mbappé scored to help Paris SG fly to the top of the Ligue 1 standings by winning (2-0) in Nantes, not without trembling, on Saturday. The capital club has a 13-point lead.

Manchester City slowed down by Chelsa

Chelsea held off Manchester City (1-1) on Saturday during the 25th day of the English championship, offering an unexpected assist to leader Liverpool, victorious over Brentford with Mohamed Salah (4-1), and to their runner-up Arsenal, still ruthless at the penultimate Burnley (5-0).

This result keeps the “Citizens” in third place with 53 points, two lengths from Arsenal (2nd, 55 pts) and four from Liverpool (1st, 57 pts). However, they have one additional cartridge, Tuesday at home in a late match against Brentford.

AC Milan falls

Undefeated for more than two months, AC Milan sank 4-2 on Sunday in Monza, and missed its chance to seize second place in the Italian Championship standings. AC Milan, which remained in nine matches without defeat (seven wins and two draws), remains third (52 pts), two points behind Juventus, held to a draw by Verona 2-2 on Saturday (54 pts) and far from the leader, Inter (63 pts), big winner of the weekend after their demonstration against Salernitana (4-0).

Real Sociedad recovers

Jostled and uninspired, Real Madrid let two points slip away in the title race on Sunday by conceding a draw (1-1) on the lawn of its neighbor Rayo Vallecano during the 25th day of La Liga. The "White House" (1st, 62 points) nevertheless remains comfortably installed at the top of the championship, with six lengths ahead of Girona (2nd, 56 points), eight ahead of FC Barcelona (3rd, 54 points) and eleven ahead of Atlético Madrid (4th, 51 points). 

💜 El @realmadrid is at the top of the #LALIGAEASPORTS tab. pic.twitter.com/Oe7iRbYrpu

— LALIGA (@LaLiga) February 18, 2024

Four days after its defeat against Paris Saint-Germain (0-2), in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, Real Sociedad ended a series of five games in a row without a victory, in all competitions.  

Crisis at Bayern

Four days after their surprise defeat in the round of 16 of the Champions League, Bayern Munich lost on Sunday in Bochum as part of the 22nd day of the Bundesliga (3 - 2). Despite a clear domination in the game, the Munich residents came up against the impressive realism of the VFL. This is the third defeat in a row for Thomas Tuchel's team, which is now eight points behind championship leader Bayer Leverkusen. 

The young French basketball player, Victor Wembanyama, selected in first position in the last NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs, is having a brilliant first season on an individual level but disappointing in terms of collective results. He participated on Friday evening in a gala mini-tournament bringing together the best young players in the North American basketball league.

French biathlete Julia Simon poses with the five medals won at the Nove Mesto Worlds. REUTERS - DAVID W CERNY

With AFP

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