The <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/archery-jean-charles-valladont-holds-his-ticket-for-tokyo/" title="Archery: Jean-Charles Valladont holds his ticket for Tokyo”>French archery team holds its medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Monday, on a sun-drenched Invalides esplanade, with an audience where French and South Korean supporters competed in good humor, the Blues competed are adorned with silver. Eight years after Jean-Charles Valladont’s individual medal of the same metal at the Rio Olympics.
The same Valladont (35 years old), Thomas Chirault (26 years old) and Baptiste Addis (only 17 years old) lost to the formidable South Korean team (5-1) in the final of the team event. But the French stood up to the leading archery nation. And, despite the defeat, it’s ‘happy’ money.
Fourth French medal of the modern Olympic era
The score against South Korea (5-1) is large. But the French team bothered the best nation in the world, forcing it to share the first set, notably with two 10s from Jean-Charles Valladont. The South Koreans (Kim Woo-jin, Lee Je-deok and Lee Woo-seok) dominated the second round, securing the victory before the last volley of arrows from the Blues. But the latter were combative until the end: three 10s in a row. Throughout the final, France always touched yellow (the zone which yields the most points: nine or 10).
In the last set, the South Korean precision was merciless: five 10s in six arrows. France will therefore be on the second step of the podium. But with happiness. Since 1972, the date of the return of archery to the Olympic Games, this is the fourth French medal (after Sébastien Flute’s gold in 1992, the French bronze in 2008 and Valladont’s silver in 2016). The boys’ success also bodes well for the individual tournament which will start on Tuesday.
