A duo drunk with joy. Manon Apithy-Brunet and her husband Boladé experienced the Paris 2024 Olympic Games together at the Grand Palais. With a journey to the round of 16 on Sunday for him and a coronation for her, Monday evening, against Sara Balze. It was also together that they celebrated this fabulous triumph a few moments after the last winning touch of the Lyonnaise against her compatriot. The fencer burst onto the track illuminated by the spotlights to take without his arms his sweetheart raised like a match before an energetic dance in front of the 8,000 packed spectators among whom we found Gabriel Attal, resigning Prime Minister and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the Minister of Sports.
“We can’t wait to stress for each other. We are preparing for these Games hand in hand. We do everything together. We train together, we stress together. We support each other. We are especially happy to do them together. It's only positive. If one of the two had not qualified, it would have been a big disappointment, which would have had to be managed as a couple. But there, like in Tokyo, we go together. And this time we are both going to stay until the end,” predicted before the start of the competition the Olympic champion who perhaps did not imagine that their individual journeys would end like this in the enchanting setting of the one of the most emblematic monuments of the capital.
France Shines with Fencing Glory at Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Regardless of the outcome, the evening of Monday, July 29, was almost ideal for French fencing during these Olympic Games. The afternoon started poorly with the eliminations of Enzo Lefort and Maxime Pauty in the quarter-finals. However, these disappointments were quickly overshadowed. After the victory of Manon Apithy-Brunet over Sara Balzer in the saber final, France added two more medals to its tally.
A Historic Franco-French Final
This victory not only delighted the nation but also showcased the strength of French fencing. Without a coach to guide or accompany them, the two fencers engaged in a duel of regulars, marking the 10th Franco-French final in fencing since 1896. Having previously faced each other in 2023 during the European Fencing Championships, the stakes were high.
The final commenced with two double hits. Manon Apithy-Brunet took the lead with a score of 4-1, raising her fist in triumph towards the audience at the Grand Palais. The bronze medalist from Tokyo displayed determination and skill, maintaining her composure to secure a 15-11 victory, marking her first Olympic title. With this win, France now boasts 16 medals as of July 29, including five gold, a significant achievement compared to their total in Tokyo 2021.
