France experienced an unforgettable evening at the Paris 2024 Olympics, culminating in a historic 1-2-3 sweep in the men’s BMX Racing final on Friday, August 2, at the SQY BMX Stadium. The event was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived fresh from witnessing Leon Marchand’s fourth gold medal in the swimming men’s 200m individual medley final at the Paris La Defense Arena.
The excitement continued earlier at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, where Teddy Riner clinched gold, becoming the most decorated judoka in Olympic history. With two gold medals already secured by French icons, the stage was set for another remarkable achievement.
The French BMX trio of Joris Daudet, Sylvain Andre, and Romain Mahieu rose to the occasion, delivering a stunning performance that etched their names in the annals of French sports history.
French BMX Triumph at Saint-Quentin
“An amazing night,” exclaimed gold medalist Daudet to Olympics.com. “Winning with my friends is unreal. The fans were incredible, and their support propelled us to this historic win.”
The French riders were the fastest in the semi-final heats, showcasing their dominance with one-two finishes in heats featuring two French competitors. The final saw the French athletes pushed to their limits, cheered on by a fervent crowd waving blue, red, and white flags.
Upon the starting beep, the SQY BMX Stadium erupted as the French trio executed flawless runs, turns, and pushes.
“We don’t really realize it yet,” silver medalist Andre told Olympics.com. “I wish I watched it on TV—it must have been amazing! It’s great for us individually, for the sport, for France.”
Switzerland’s Cedric Butti narrowly missed out on a medal by one hundredth of second, underscoring the high level of competition.
Historic Night for French Sports
Crossing the finish line, Daudet, Andre, and Mahieu achieved something unprecedented—a 1-2-3 French sweep in the Olympics, the first such feat in 100 years, since Paris last hosted the Games in 1924.
“Someone told me that it had been 100 years just before the race,” bronze medalist Mahieu shared. “We’ve talked about this for years. People wanted us to go 1-2-3 because we had never won a BMX medal for men before. Now we have three in one night.”
President Macron’s presence added to the significance of the event. Daudet remarked, “It’s amazing to have him watch the race and all the important people in France supporting our small sport.”
Cycling Couple’s Double Success
The night featured a touching Olympic love story. Mahieu’s partner, Australia’s Saya Sakakibara, won gold in the women’s final just 15 minutes after Mahieu’s bronze win.
“I didn’t even have time to realize what I did,” Mahieu said. “She won gold, and I’m more proud of her. She’s been through a lot and deserves this.”
The French crowd celebrated all night, singing the national anthem “La Marseillaise” and “Que je t’aime.”
Whether French or not, this was a night of pride and joy for the host nation. From the pool to the mat to the track, France celebrated a night of sporting excellence, dancing in the streets by the Seine.
BMX Racing Men’s Final Results
| Medal | Country | Athlete(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | France | Joris Daudet | N/A |
| Silver | France | Sylvain Andre | N/A |
| Bronze | France | Romain Mahieu | N/A |
This triumphant performance is sure to be remembered as one of the highlights of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
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