France is second in the Olympic medal table as of the morning of August 3, with a total of 36 medals including 11 gold. Yesterday, August 2, 2024, a historic day followed by many French fans at Club France, in the Parc de la Villette, north of Paris.
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At Club France last night, the French HQ completely capsized and is asking for more. August 2, 2024 goes down in history: France equals its most prolific day in medals in 100 years and also equals the record of 1996 in Atlanta.
Heated to white heat by Teddy Riner’s victory a few hours earlier, the public first exulted for Florent Manaudou, who won bronze in the 50-meter freestyle. Before waiting for the famous Léo Marchand who won his fourth gold medal. And there, the public plunged into intoxication, the time for Marie to summarize her emotions of the day.
“Léo Marchand, four gold medals! Incredible, individually, without relay, fantastic glides and a majestic breaststroke recovery, nothing to say, and it’s not over. Without much surprise, we still expected his medal, Teddy Riner. Afterwards, he did the job. We expected it too. Romane (Dicko) well, we’re a little disappointed, but she still got the bronze. It’s great! Manaudou who is looking for the bronze. We’re happy, what! Long live France!”
“Extraordinary, phenomenal. I think we should find the superlative that is above! We need days like that every day.” And that was before the BMX race and this historic French hat-trick, 3 medals. Never had a podium been 100% French at the Summer Olympics, for 100 years, all sides combined. The counter goes to 36 medals. The one from Tokyo is therefore surpassed in a week. Alexandre, in the middle of the crowd, holds his chest and trembles with happiness:
“Teddy, honestly, an ippon, but splendid! And Léo Marchand, a monument. And there, we are finally rewarded in BMX, they deserve it! I have never enjoyed sport so much, never been so excited by swimming, BMX, horse riding, a crazy thrill!”
Will we do better in the second week? “It’s hard to do better. But The Team had counted on 75 medals. I said to myself: are they getting a bit carried away? Maybe we’ll still be there after all.”
One thing is certain: the French team really makes the public dream, and the Marseillaise has not finished resonating at the Club France. The absolute record of French medals at an edition of the Olympic Games can fall quickly. It was in Beijing in 2008. With 36 medals on the morning of August 3, France is seven lengths away from registering these Games in legend.