It was almost nothing, but the French sabers won their third consecutive crown this Saturday in Basel (Switzerland) by snatching victory in the final against Ukraine. Trailing 42-44, Sarah Noutcha did not tremble against the legend Olga Kharlan and put the last three touches to free Manon Apithy-Brunet, Cécilia Berder and Caroline Quéroli (45-44).
One month before the Games, Matthieu Gourdain’s group ends the season with stunning success and will have never left the podiums all season, with a total of four victories, a second place and a third place. A gold medal that is all the more meaningful given that Sara Balzer, world number 1 and out of action due to back pain, was preserved.
Noutcha pulls out all the stops
After an uneventful entry in the quarter-finals against Poland (45-30), the Blues had already experienced a first scare in the semi-finals against Spain (45-32). While leading 35-28 with two relays remaining, the French sabers saw the Spanish pass them in front (40-39) after a 12-4 conceded by Manon Apithy-Brunet. But in line with her good individual performance on Thursday, where she came within touching distance of the podium, Noutcha managed to finish the job against Araceli Navarro (45-42).
In a final that was initially very close, Ukraine took a slight advantage (35-31) as they approached the goal. But Apithy-Brunet, vengeful, passed the last baton to Noutcha with only a touch of delay. While she had beaten her in the round of 16 individually on Thursday (15-11), Noutcha this time seemed without a solution against Kharlan. But it was with her back to the wall, trailing 42-44, that the one who will be a substitute at the Games pulled out all the stops, snatching victory at the end of the suspense. A success which launches Les Bleues perfectly into their home stretch of preparation before the Games, where they will be the big favorites.
