Less than two weeks remain before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Our editorial team invites you to discover the thirty or so Azurean athletes to support.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin on July 26, and the selection of athletes in France is almost complete. No fewer than thirty-two Azurean athletes or those affiliated with a club in the Alpes-Maritimes are participating.
Their First Olympic Games
Tennis player Diane Parry will compete in women’s singles and doubles. With Kristina Mladenovic opting out, she will pair with Caroline Garcia for the doubles.
This year, the former world junior number one entered the Top 50 for the first time, ranking 49th. Argentine coach Martin Vilar helped her achieve this record, as he is now her full-time coach.
Oriane Bertone is the only French athlete qualified for the Olympic Games in climbing. She notably won her second senior French bouldering championship title in Valence in February 2024. Her goal for these Games is clear: the Olympic podium.
As for athletics, several Azureans will be present. Antibes’ very own Alessia Zarbo ranks sixth globally in cross-country in 2024. She has been selected by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) for the 10,000 meters event. Camille Séri will participate in the 400 meters hurdles. She’s a French indoor champion in 2022 and 2023 and finished second in the 400 meters hurdles final at the 2023 French Championships. As for Rouguy Diallo, she will compete in the triple jump. In 2019, she clinched the title of French champion and French indoor champion. Her outdoor record in 2021 is 14.51 meters, and her indoor record from 2019 is 14.39 meters. She finished tenth at the World Championships in 2019. Méba-Mickaël Zézé competes in the 200 meters, with his best result being third place in 2018. Makenson Gletty will take part in the decathlon. He won his first international medal in decathlon in 2024, finishing third at the European Championships. Finally, Téo Andant will compete in the mixed 4 x 400 meters. He placed fourth at the World Championship in this discipline in 2023. Undoubtedly, French athletics will shine through them.
In rhythmic gymnastics, Eleonore Caburet is part of the French national group. In May 2023, they won second place in the ribbon and hoop event. For her individual performance, she became the vice-champion of France in 2022.
In swimming, Lilou Ressencourt will take on the relay as she failed to qualify in the 100 meters and 200 meters butterfly. However, she was the French champion in the 200 meters in 2021.
Emily Hallifax participated in her first European Championships this year. She won a silver medal in the 10-meter diving event, marking the first French women’s medal in this discipline in nine years.
Eugénie Le Sommer is part of the women’s soccer team. Her record is filled with trophies won with Olympique Lyonnais. By the end of the 2022-2023 season, she had won twelve French Championships, nine national cups, three champion trophies, and eight European Cups. She was twice voted the best player of Division 1 and once by the FFF. After knee surgery in April, she is still in the recovery phase. Yet, Hervé Renard, the coach of the French women’s team, told RMC Sport: “There is no doubt about her presence at the Olympics. If the green light is given and Eugénie feels ready, she can enter during the second match.”
In shooting sports, Romain Aufrère is the only one to have won two Junior World Championship titles in the 10 meters and 50 meters rifle events in the same year, in 2023. With a father who practiced shooting and a neighbor coach, he has always been immersed in this world.
In beach volleyball, Youssef Krou will be present. After winning the Torquay Elite 16 in 2022, he was a finalist at the Beach Pro Tour Challenge in Itapema in 2023 with his partner Arnaud Gauthier-Rat, who is also selected to participate in Paris 2024.
Marie-Josèphe Fegue competes in weightlifting. Despite her impressive record, she is participating in her first Olympic Games. She has notably participated in the Commonwealth Games twice, in 2010 and 2014, winning the 2014 Games in the -69kg category. She is now in the -76kg category and won the European Championships in 2022 and 2023.
A sweet comeback for Louise Cervera in sailing. After narrowly missing her qualifications in 2020, she clinched the precious ticket this year. She competes in ILCA6, formerly laser radial. She is also a two-time French champion.
For water polo, the French men’s team includes Hugo Fontani. As a goalkeeper, these Games might be challenging since they lost their last three preparation games. As for the women’s team, Tiziana Raspo was officially selected on July 8. At just 18 years old, she plays in the center forward position. The women’s team won their last two preparation matches.
After 20 years without qualification for the French wheelchair basketball team, Christophe Carlier and Houcine Belaid will be present to make this discipline shine. The team’s goal is to achieve a good result to become part of history.
Finally, there is uncertainty regarding Margot Chevrier in pole vault. Following her injury at the World Championships last March, she has not practiced. Even though the CNOSF has officially selected her, she must vault before July 21 to confirm her participation.
Back in the Competitive Arena
After being a reserve in 2016 and participating in 2021, Alexandre Ayache returns with his horse Jolene in 2024. He made his mark in the Special of the International Dressage Competition 3* in Ornago in 2024.
Charlotte Bonnet is participating for the fourth and especially the last time in the Olympic Games. She announces she is ending her career. The captain of the French swimming team confided to Le Point: “I feel the need to stop and I chose this moment because it is the most beautiful it can be.” Her age (29) is a factor, as she admits that her body recovers less quickly.
Florent Manaudou competes in the 50-meter freestyle. At Tokyo 2020, he won a silver medal. This year’s French flag bearer will begin his competition on July 27.
Samir Aït Saïd has already participated in 2016, where he finished sixth in the rings qualifications before withdrawing from the final. He returned in 2020 and finished fourth. His last World Championship dates back to 2019, where he won a bronze medal, his first in world competition.
In shooting sports, two athletes are making a comeback. Jean Quiquampoix is participating for the third time in the Olympic Games, having always finished on the podium. He was second in Rio in 2016 and first in Tokyo in 2021, with numerous podium finishes in his career, including six World Championship titles. Alexis Raynaud is participating in his second Olympic Games. In 2016 in Rio, he won the bronze medal in the 50-meter 3 positions rifle shooting event.
This marks the fifth participation for Jean-Baptiste Bernaz. Outside the podium in the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 editions, his best result is fifth place. He became the ILCA7 world champion in 2022 and was elected Sailor of the Year that same year.
In rowing, Élodie Ravera-Scaramozzino returns with her lifelong partner Hélène Lefebvre. After finishing fifth in 2016 and eighth in 2020, the two teammates will attempt to win in their third participation in the double sculls event.
To conclude this list of Azurean athletes, who better than the last Olympic champion Kevin Tillie. He is back to defend his Olympic title with the French volleyball team. After declining participation in the Euro in 2021 and getting injured at the 2022 World Cup, he returns with Les Bleus this year.
