The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) revealed, Thursday June 13, the 18 candidates to be flag bearers for the Blues at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic (14 names) Paralympic (4 names) Games this summer in Paris . Two standard bearers, one man and one woman each time, will be chosen from this selection. The athletes of the French delegation will vote for their favorites and the result will be revealed on July 12. RFI presents them to you.
The 14 names for the Olympic Games
Jean-Baptiste Bernaz – Sailing
At 36 years old, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz is a regular at the Olympic Games. The Varois was already there in 2008 in Beijing where, at just 19 years old, he competed in Laser. Also present in 2012 in London, in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and in 2021 in Tokyo, he hopes to finally get on the podium at the Olympic Games 2024he who finished 5th in 2016 for the best result.
Charlotte Bonnet – Swimming
Six times European champion, Charlotte Bonnet was only 17 years old when she won her first – and for the moment only – Olympic medal. In London in 2012, she won, with the late Camille Muffat, Ophélie Etienne and Coralie Balmy, bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay. The 29-year-old swimmer plans to retire with these final Games.
Romane Dicko – Judo
Already a double European champion, Romane Dicko revealed herself a little more to the world in 2021 by winning a bronze medal in the over 78 kilos, as well as a gold medal in mixed teams. The judoka, still European champion in 2022 and 2023, added a world champion title to her list of achievements in 2022.
Laëtitia Guapo – 3×3 basketball
The “Wasp” discovered the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, the year when three-player basketball became an Olympic sport. World champion and European champion in 2022, Laëtitia Guapo hopes for a medal in Paris after fourth place in Tokyo.
Renaud Lavillenie – Athletics
Former world record holder (6.16m), gold medalist in London and silver in Rio, Renaud Lavillenie wrote one of the most beautiful pages in pole vaulting. The 37-year-old Frenchman was notably a model for the new master of the discipline, the Swede Armand Duplantis.
Camille Lecointre – Sailing
The Norman woman has been sailing the waves for 20 years now and collecting medals in the 470 category. Camille Lecointre has already gone looking for the most beautiful metals everywhere, except at the Games. In bronze in 2016 with Hélène Defrance, again in bronze in 2021 with Aloïse Retornaz, the Frenchwoman aims higher in Paris.
Enzo Lefort – Fencing
Coming from Cayenne in Guyana, Enzo Lefort is an important member of the French delegation. In foil, the slender fencer shone time and again. He has a silver medal (2016) and a gold medal (2021) in team foil. All he needs is an individual consecration.
Florent Manaudou – Swimming
Eight years after her big sister Laure, goddess of pools in Athens in 2004, Florent Manaudou made a splash at the London Games. In the 50m freestyle, the 21-year-old colossus won gold right under the noses of the favorites Cullen Jones and Cesar Cielo. Silver medalist in 2016 and 2021, handball player between 2016 and 2019, the swimmer has no shortage of ambition for Paris 2024.
Estelle Mossely – Boxing
During the 2016 Olympic Games, which were fabulous for French boxing, Estelle Mossely competed in the under 60 kilo category, she became the first French Olympic champion in history, on the day of her 24th birthday. Also crowned world champion since then, the boxer dreams of doing it again at home.
Earvin Ngapeth – Volleyball
If he received his first name in homage to the American basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Earvin Ngapeth found his calling in volleyball. A spectacular player and major asset of the French selection, the receiver-attacker shone brightly in Tokyo, where he led the Blues to the gold medal and was named best player of the tournament.
Sofiane Oumiha – Boxing
The public remembers the tears of emotion of the Toulouse resident, Olympic vice-champion in Brazil in 2016. Sofiane Oumiha has since won the world title of less than 60 kilos in amateur boxing three times. Turning pro in 2022, he won his three fights. Beaten at the start of the Tokyo Olympics, the boxer has revenge to take in Paris.
Pauline Ranvier – Fencing
The foil fencer is used to second and third places. Olympics, Worlds, European Championships… Pauline Ranvier is often placed in team events, but never in gold. A gap soon to be filled during the blue-white-red Olympics?
Wendie Fox – Football
She is simply considered one of the best defenders in the world. A permanent member of the French football team of which she is captain, Wendie Renard is a pillar of the Bleues. International since 2011, the Frenchwoman has collected titles with Olympique Lyonnais. All that remains is to break the glass ceiling with the selection.
Mélina Robert-Michon – Athletics
She is one of the embodiments of perseverance at the Olympic Games. In 2000 and 2004, in the hammer throw, Mélina Robert-Michon did not pass the qualifying bar. In 2008, she ranked 7th, then 5th in 2012. And finally, in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, the Frenchwoman achieved the feat: a throw of 66.73m, a new French record, which gave her the silver medal. .
The 4 names for the Olympic Games
Nélia Barbosa – Paracanoe
Born in Lisbon, Nélia Barbosa took up canoeing as a teenager. Forced to amputate part of her right leg at the age of 18, the young woman returned to paracanoe competition with some success. From her first Paralympic Games, in 2021 in Tokyo, she won a silver medal.
Nantenin Keïta – Para athletics
Daughter of musician Salif Keïta, Nantenin Keïta is a figure in athletics in France. Suffering from a visual impairment, the athlete shone in all competitions, including the Paralympic Games where she won four medals (one gold, one silver and two bronze) between 2008 and 2016. At 39 years old, she wants to finish her career in Paris.
David Smetanine – Para swimming
The car accident that occurred when he was 21 did not alter his love for swimming. David Smetanine is an ogre of the pools, and his track record speaks for him: from 2004 to 2021, there is not an edition of the Games where the Grenoblois has not won at least a medal. Almost 50 years old, his collection includes 9 medals (2 in gold, 5 in silver, 2 in bronze). While waiting for Paris.
Alexis Hanquinquant – Para triathlon
It is an understatement to say thatAlexis Hanquinquant has sport in his blood. Before the construction site accident which deprived him of his right leg, he had shone in basketball and in full contact. After the amputation, the Frenchman threw himself into para triathlon, a discipline where he leaves only crumbs to the competition. Six-time world champion, six-time European champion, he also won Olympic gold in Tokyo.