Who will be at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer? Apart from judokas (already established) and a few disciplines (boxing, badminton or even canoeing), few athletes can answer this question with certainty. However, trends are emerging in Vienne and Deux-Sèvres. We take stock.
We first think of table tennis, with the French number one, the TTACC 86 player, Jia Nan Yuan. There is little doubt about his presence, especially in mixed doubles. In volleyball, France is automatically qualified, and two Poitevins should appear in the coach’s choices: the star Earvin Ngapeth and his friend Antoine Brizard.
Chances of medals in basketball, volleyball and para archery
In handball, the Niortais Nicolas Tournat should be called. At 30 years old, the pivot has been in all of the Blues’ last victorious campaigns. In basketball, the former player of PB 86 Evan Fournier is anticipated. To see if Moustapha Fall, another international who passed through Vienna, manages to find a place in the interior position.
In cycling, several FDJ Suez champions are pre-selected. The French track girl Marie Le Net or the Australian Grace Brown. In athletics, Bressuirais Hugo Hay will go, barring any cataclysm, to the Olympics, he achieved the minimums in the 5,000 meters.
Finally, Poitou could shine during the Paralympic Games: we think of the triathlete from Stade Poitevin Geoffrey Wersy or the archer Julie Rigault-Chupin, based in Moncoutant-sur-Sèvre. She has already validated her ticket and is guaranteed to participate in the Olympic Games.
Three other athletes from Poitou are in ambush for a place in Paris… Even if they are not in pole position, they secretly hope to be: the volleyball player from Niort Anatole Chaboissant, future Paris player, international hopeful; the Niortais Theo Baraton, wheelchair rugby player at the NRC and member of the French team; and in swimming, the young Léane Piece, 20 years old, visually impaired. The native of Neuville-de-Poitou trains in Limoges, and hopes to find a place in the 100m freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.
