The last summer competitions were marked by lackluster performances for French athletes, raising doubts about the medal targets set for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. Whether in basketball, athletics, fencing or cycling, the Results have alternated between fiascos and disappointments.
The French basketball team suffered a real blow during the World Cup in Indonesia. After their silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Blues had great ambitions for this tournament, but they were eliminated in the first matches, suffering a historic defeat.
For its part, French athletics also experienced difficulties during the world championships. If a modest harvest was expected, the weakness of the results was notable. Only a silver medal was won in the men’s 4x400m relay, thus avoiding zero points.
The situation is similar in fencing and cycling. During the world fencing championships in Milan, France obtained six medals and only one title, thus recording a decline compared to the previous edition. As for track cycling, no medals were won at the world championships in Glasgow.
This series of disappointing performances has raised questions about France’s chances of achieving its goal of finishing in the top 5 of the medal rankings at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. If the representatives of the French Olympic movement try to reassure by qualifying these results of simple warnings, it is clear that additional efforts will be necessary to achieve this ambitious goal.
President Emmanuel Macron himself has recognized the need to improve sporting performance. However, he emphasizes that a revolution in just twelve months is impossible, while emphasizing the need to rely on the great French champions to obtain better results.
Although some sports such as swimming showed encouraging performances with six medals at the world championships in Fukuoka, overall summer results show a worrying trend. The pressure of hosting the Olympic Games at home is being felt, and it is clear that changes must be made to meet the objectives set by President Macron.
You should not rush to be ready too early, but it is important to be there at the right time, underlines David Lappartient, president of the French Olympic committee (CNOSF). He insists that some sports can be subject to hazards, but that one should not count on miracles either.
Despite the challenges ahead, those involved in French sport are aware of the issues and ready to fight to reach the much-desired top 5. The path will be difficult, but the commitment and determination are present. See you in 2024 to see if these efforts will bear fruit.