Blue final in fencing and shower of French medals… What to remember from the day of July 29

With eight podiums on Monday, France takes second place in the medal table with 16 medals, including 5 gold, behind Japan and its 6 titles.

A fruitful day for the French team. No fewer than eight medals were added, on Monday, July 29, to the French tally, which now shows sixteen trinkets, on the third day of Olympic competition at home, only the United States has more (20). Fencing and judo, as expected, made their contribution to the French successes, but other disciplines also came to brighten up the day of the Blues.

A magnificent double in the women’s sabre

It is 9:45 p.m. when they step onto the balcony of the Grand Palais. After a superb performance, fencers Sara Balzer and Manon Apithy-Brunet found themselves in the sabre final on Sunday evening. Despite the certainty of winning a medal, they fought for every point in a highly charged Grand Palais. First in the rankings and dominating this season, Sara Balzer was the favorite but Manon Apithy-Brunet won 15-12, rewarded after an offensive start.

The double medallist in Tokyo now takes gold, while her team teammate wins silver. The two sabre players were then celebrated together by their entire staff. On the men’s side, after an exciting start to the day, Enzo Lefort and Maxime Pauty both lost in the quarterfinals with a score of 15-14.

Nicolas Gestin in the line of golden canoeists

Without incurring any penalties, the Frenchman, at 24, held his place as vice-world champion in Vaires-sur-Marne. For his first participation in the Olympic Games, Nicolas Gestin even achieved a feat by winning all four rounds of the competition, the two qualifying rounds, the semi-final and therefore the final.

Around 4 p.m., he offered France its fourth gold medal, under the eyes of the legend of his discipline, Tony Estanguet. “I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better, it’s perfect. It’s very surprising but I was relaxed, sure of my strength, I wanted to enjoy the moment”, said the Breton.

Judo continues to bring its share of medals, but still no gold

He created the surprise, while it was expected. Sensation of the Arena Champ-de-Mars, Joan-Benjamin Gaba went “at the end of his strength” to reach the -73 kg final, where he lost to the reigning world and European champion, Azerbaijani Hidayat Heydarov. This silver medal concludes a very fine run for the man who won his place at the Games thanks to a third place at the last European Championships.

Just before him, Sarah-Léonie Cysique had brought “with guts” And “a big mind” the fourth medal in French judo. After her fight folded in less than nine seconds in the quarterfinals, the silver medalist in Tokyo was still in the running for “to look for gold” – her goal in Paris. But disappointment, the 26-year-old judoka gave in, on penalty, after more than nine minutes of combat against the double world champion, Canadian Christa Deguchi. In tears, she nevertheless exulted in becoming the bronze medalist in -57 kg.

Mountain biking, archery, horse riding… Money is raining down on the Blues

Silver is currently the colour of the French team, with eight charms for five in gold and three in bronze. This Monday’s harvest began with the cross-country mountain bike and the second place of Victor Koreztky, who had long believed in gold during his duel with Thomas Pidcock. Then the French archery team rubbed shoulders with the best nation in the discipline before South Korea finally won. No matter, the joy of French archers Baptiste Addis, Thomas Chirault and Jean-Charles Valladont was evident under the sunshine of Les Invalides.

The emotion was also strong in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, when another French trio rose to second place in the eventing competition. After winning gold in Rio and bronze in Tokyo, riders Karim Laghouag, Stéphane Landois and Nicolas Touzaint now have silver medals.

No feat for Rafael Nadal against Novak Djokovic

6-1, 6-4. In the second round of these Olympic Games, Rafael Nadal went out by the back door on his home turf, at Roland-Garros, against a Serb determined to win the only title missing from his list of achievements.

But was the Porte d’Auteuil witnessing their very last confrontation? Was Rafael Nadal going to abandon the racket for good at the end of this match? “HAS“After the Olympics, I will make the necessary decisions,” did he answerafter his defeat, his expression crumpled. His retirement is therefore suspended until the end of his next match, which he will play in doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz, on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Disappointing French co-sports

Reigning Olympic champions, the French handball players have suffered a second defeat in as many home games and find themselves “a bit against the wall”in the words of their coach Guillaume Gille.

Further north of Paris, the French rugby 7s, who were imperial in qualifying with three wins, were knocked out in the quarter-finals when they were aiming for gold. The reigning Olympic vice-champions will not be able to do better than fifth this year. Also among the French disappointments, the absence of French players in the skateboarding final and the 7th place of Yoann Ndoye-Brouard in the 100m backstroke final, despite having finished 3rd in the semi-finals.