From July 23 to August 8, the Olympic Games will host surfing, skating and climbing events for the first time. And France has a chance to shine in all these disciplines.
In 2015, the Japanese Olympic Committee proposed the entry of climbing, surfing and skateboarding to the Olympics. This was a great first for these disciplines, which passed all the validation stages of the organizing committee and the IOC. As a result, 33 sports will be on the programme of the Tokyo Olympic Games. Whether on water, on the Japanese skatepark or on the artificial climbing routes, French athletes will be aiming for the podium in these three new disciplines. Here are the tricolors in each sport and the principle of the events.
Surfing: Johanne Defay can dream of gold
France already knew a few months ago that Jeremy Flores and Michel Bourez would be competing in the men's Olympic Games in Tokyo. The two French surfers will be on Tsurigasaki beach, located in the south-east of the Japanese megalopolis. On this same spot, the French women will also be two to defend our colors in the women. After the unsurprising qualification of Johanne Defay, it is Pauline Ado who will accompany her to Japan. The surfer from Anglet went to get her qualification during the world championships which ended in El Salvador ten days ago. For the podium, Johanne Defay can clearly hope to get a medal. The Private Sport Shop ambassador has already won three times on the World Tour and is currently ranked fifth in the world after the australian tour. The quota of two athletes per gender and per nation has also reduced the number of Australian and American surfers, who are omnipresent at the highest level in this discipline.
In the competition format, surfers will compete in heats between two and five athletes at the same time. In order to win a medal, they will have to pass at least five rounds before playing the small final for bronze in a duel with another surfer. The grand final will be between the two best surfers of the Olympics.
Climbing: The Mawem brothers on a boulder!
Qualified for Tokyo, the two brothers Bassa and Mickael Mawem have managed to take the only two men's spots available for France in Tokyo. Mickael snatched his ticket at the 2019 World Championships while Bassa qualified at the TQO (Olympic Qualifying Tournament) of the same year. They will therefore go to the Olympics together. If one lives in Voiron in Isère, the elder (Mickael) trains in Noumea, New Caledonia. The competition is tough for the men but both can hope for a podium. In the women's category, Anouck Jaubert and Julia Chanourdie will defend the French colours. For the format, the Olympic Committee has chosen a combination of three disciplines. It will be necessary to be complete and to excel in difficulty, bouldering and speed to hope to win the first Olympic medals in the discipline.
Skateboard : Giraud has all his chances
French number one in the discipline, Aurélien Giraud is one of the top 5 in the world in street. The Lyonnais (recently settled in the United States), has already won some of the biggest skateboarding competitions on the planet including the Dew Tour in 2019. At the Olympics, he will be joined by his buddy Vincent Milou while Charlotte Hym will be competing in the women's street. In park, Vincent Matheron and Madeleine Larcheron are also qualified. Two disciplines are on the programme in Tokyo. The park (bowl) and the street. In park, each rider will have four runs of 45 seconds. The best run will be retained for the final ranking. In street, the riders will have two runs of 45 seconds and five attempts to enter their best trick. In total, 40 men and 40 women will compete in the events.