In a historic achievement for French table tennis, the team of Félix Lebrun, his brother Alexis, and Simon Gauzy secured the bronze medal in the team event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating Japan 3-2. This victory marks France’s 55th medal at these Games and is only the fourth Olympic medal in the history of French table tennis.Félix Lebrun, who had already clinched an individual bronze earlier in the tournament, emerged as the hero of the match. He won both his singles encounters, including the decisive game against Hiroto Shinozuka, making him the first French table tennis player to win two medals in a single Olympics. Simon Gauzy described the match as ‘the match of a lifetime,’ emphasizing the significance of their achievement.The French team’s success is part of a broader narrative of French excellence at these home Olympics. Across various sports, French athletes have been making their mark. In basketball, the men’s team, featuring NBA sensation Victor Wembanyama, has advanced to the final where they will face the star-studded USA team led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The French handball team, defending champions from Tokyo 2020, are also in contention for gold.In football, the French men’s team, coached by Thierry Henry, is set to face Spain in the final, aiming for their first Olympic gold in the sport since 1984. The women’s basketball team is also in the hunt for a medal, facing Belgium in the semifinals.As the Games enter their final stages, France finds itself in a strong position in the medal table, currently placed fourth. With several more opportunities for medals in the coming days, including in athletics and breakdancing, the host nation is poised for a memorable finish to what has already been a successful Olympics.
Key points
- French table tennis team wins bronze medal in team event at Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Félix Lebrun becomes first French table tennis player to win two medals in a single Olympics.
- France is performing strongly across multiple sports, including basketball, handball, and football.
- Host nation France is currently fourth in the medal table, with more opportunities for medals in the coming days.
