To unroll: French medals at the Olympic Games since 1972
The tension will rise in the spring with 17 major world championships by the end of August (including all swimming and cycling disciplines) to not fall again until the Games, the qualification process stretching until June 2024 in certain sports. Inevitably, the media and supporters will weigh the chances of each, and assess what the French balance sheet could be on the evening of August 11, 2024.
Romain Cannone, unexpected Olympic epee champion in Tokyo, and great hope for Paris 2024.
AFP
A very political objective
The initial political objective of 80 medals fell by the wayside, just like the one who proclaimed it in September 2017, at the time of the designation of Paris, the former Minister of Sports Laura Flessel. The current one, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, has just recalled that Emmanuel Macron “spoke of a top 5”, he also encouraged the athletes to deserve the money invested in the high level, which is not very fine. A top 5 is less unreasonable but not easy either. On average since 2000, France is 7e on the medal table with ten in gold, which counts for the classification.
France has stagnated since Sydney 2000 and its sports policy lags behind
Its highest ranking in recent editions is 6e at Sydney 2000 with 13 Olympic titles, his lowest fell to 10e rank in Beijing with seven titles. The Blues remain on an 8e place in Tokyo with ten gold medals (33 in total). Their last top 5 dates back to Atlanta 1996, with 15 gold medals out of the 37 won, a good proportion to find.
Since 2000, the 5e place was decided between 13 in London (South Korea) and 20 in Tokyo (Olympic Committee of Russia), the average is 16. Everything will depend on the participation or not of Russian athletes. The 4e place, it is between 16 and 22 gold medals, the average at 18.
Léon Marchand discovered the Games in Tokyo. He has since revealed himself and is expected at the summit in Paris.
AFP
Dreams and the possible
The risk for France is that its dreams of grandeur will climb much faster than its Olympic results, stagnant – at best – since Sydney and the financial effort of its governments for basic equipment and practice. The recent successes of Japan, Great Britain, Australia, even the Netherlands, are based on a long-term effort which is not our specialty.
There is nevertheless good hope that judo (eight medals in Tokyo including two gold) and fencing (five including two gold) will transform podiums into titles. From Tokyo, the president of the French Fencing Federation Bruno Garès, very enthusiastic, announced 12 medals for Paris, immediately revised to seven or eight by general manager Pierre Guichot. On a pro rata basis, this can make one or two titles more.
These highly anticipated sports
It will also be necessary for team sports to reach the level of Japan (three titles, both in handball and that of volleyball) and for disciplines that are traditionally auriferous but disappointing in 2021 (cycling, sailing, swimming, horse riding, canoeing) or potential (triathlon, BMX) are there. With the Léon Marchand locomotive in the water, iQFOIL and kitesurfing aces in Marseille, Alaphilippe and others on two wheels, it can be 16…
