Six more medals on the counter! During the third day of the European Championships in Munich (Germany), Saturday August 13, the French won the first three places in triathlon, a historic podium. For his part, Anthony Jeanjean retained his title of European champion. Two climbing medals are added to the blue harvest of the day. A look back at the highlights of the day on the other side of the Rhine.
Triathlon: a historic tricolor podium
An undivided domination. The French signed a great performance in the men’s triathlon by winning the first three places. Léo Bergère is crowned European champion, ahead of Pierre Le Corre and Dorian Coninx. Well established in the leading peloton on the bike, the trio gradually let go of the competition when running. After accelerating at the sixth kilometer, Léo Bergère gave way to his compatriots, heading for victory.
This is the first French hat-trick in the discipline during a European championship. After Emma Lombardi’s beautiful bronze medal on Friday, the Blues can hope for a new podium on Sunday, during the mixed relay.
BMX freestyle: as boss, Anthony Jeanjean wins
Anthony Jeanjean reigns over the Old Continent. The 24-year-old French athlete has won his third European champion title, after 2019 and 2021. Leading afterare qualifications, the Habs dominated the first set. In the second run, however, he was pushed to his limits by the Briton Kieran Reilly who achieved a great performance (92.70 points). Anthony Jeanjean replied with a magnificent display which earned him 93.60 points. Croatian Marin Rantes finished third (88.80 points).
Climbing: the Blues are smiling
She won the first tricolor medal of the day. Manon Hily obtains a very nice bronze medal in the difficulty test with 41 successful holds. The penultimate competitor in the running, the 28-year-old Aixoise managed to temporarily climb to second position to secure her place on the podium. The last climber, the Slovenian Janja Garnbret, then crushed her opponents with 50 holds, ahead of the Austrian Jessica Pilz (45 holds).
In the men’s category, Sam Havesou becomes vice-champion of Europe in bouldering, after having achieved two tops (the highest holds) on the four boulders to be climbed. He won the silver medal behind Nicolai Uznik (Austria) and ahead of Adam Ondra (Czech Republic).
The other Frenchman involved, Mejdi Schalck, finished in fourth place, a promising performance for this young climber of barely 18 years old. Manuel Cornu, however winner of the qualifications, failed in 11th place in the semi-finals, with only one block validated during his passage.
Track cycling: a mixed day
Poor results for the French cyclists on Saturday, after the raid on Friday. If Sébastien Vigier and Rayan Helal managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the sprint, the fortune of the other Tricolores was quite different.
Marie-Divine Kouamé crashed in the 500m final, while Valentine Fortin finished an infuriating fourth in the race for elimination. No medal either for Donavan Grondin in scratch, nor qualification for Valentin Tabellion and Thomas Denis in pursuit.
Rowing: the French only sixth
Victor Marcelot, Benoît Brunet, Théophile Onfroy and his brother Valentin could not do anything in the final of the men’s quadruple against the overpowered Italians and Poles. Despite a good resistance during the first thousand meters, the French then cracked to finish in sixth place, 9.50 from the winners.
Gymnastics: the beam fatal to the French
Unfortunately, medal hopefuls in gymnastic quickly flew to the France team. Marine Boyer, Lorette Charpy, Aline Friess, Carolann Heduit and Morgane Osyssek-Reimer only grabbed sixth place. They did not perform as expected on beam, often their strong point, which penalized them for the rest of the competition. Morgane Osyssek-Reimer notably fell twice.
The Italians, led by Asia d’Amato, already crowned in individual, imposed themselves. The British and the Germans complete the podium. Next meeting on Sunday for the French women, during the apparatus finals.