French Gymnastics Team Shines at World Relays, Qualifies for Paris Olympics—with One Unexpected Setback

Start cannon. The French gymnastics team had a good day on Saturday at the world relays in Nassau (The Bahamas) by qualifying four of their five teams for the Paris Olympic Games (26 July – 11 August). Paradoxically it was the men’s 4x400m relay, former world champions last summer in Budapest, who were unable to secure a place at the Games, with second relay runner Thomas Jordier withdrawing on his race, hurt.

His teammates will have another chance to prove their ticket to the Games on Sunday in a repeat race. The other four relays, mixed 4x400m, women’s and men’s 4x100m and women’s 4x400m, qualified for the biggest global sporting event of the summer. So many great opportunities to shine in a selection that competitors need for individual Olympic podiums.

The world relays contested on Saturday and Sunday in the Bahamas will offer 14 qualifying places for the Games in the five relays contested on the track. Four series were run on Saturday for each subject: the first two teams in this series received direct qualification for the finals on Sunday and for the Olympics. This is the case of the mixed tricolor 4×400 m led by Thomas Jordier, a few hours before his injury, Amandine Brossier, Gilles Biron and Louise Maraval for second place in 3 min 14 sec 71 behind Poland (3 : 13.53).

Orlann Oliere, Gémima Joseph, Hélène Parisot and Mallory Leconte then ran 43 sec 09 behind the United States to secure qualification for the women’s 4x100m, before they were followed by Mickael Zeze, Jeff Erius, Pablo Mateo and Aymeric Priam , winners in 38 sec 32 ahead of Great Britain. Shana Grebo, Fanny Peltier, Diana Iscaye and Camille Seri then moved the women’s 4x400m to 2nd place in their heat in 3 min 28 sec 06, behind Poland.

“We didn’t think we would be able to qualify for the first race, but in the end everything is possible”, rejoiced Diana Iscaye. “We saw the Eiffel Tower as it came the end is near“, smiled Fanny Peltier, thinking of the future summer in Paris.”We have been working on this goal for two years, I am happy to confirm the certificate“, said Jeff Erius.

The big names present in the Bahamas shone in the name of the gathering, such as the American Noah Lyles, with the qualification of 4 × 100 m as the Italian Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, the Dutch Femke Bol, in the 4×400 m medley, and the Botswana giant Letsile Tebogo, the powerhouse of his team in the men’s 4×400 m.

Sunday will take place the repeat races with three series in each discipline, for two qualifying places for the Games in each series. Two places per event will remain available after the world replays, based on the results between December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2024.