The French in the running today
Many French athletes are competing in Tokyo on this morning of Thursday, August 5, starting with Kevin Mayer, who will resume his decathlon from 2 a.m., Paris time, with the 100 m hurdles. Handicapped by a blocked back Wednesday, the Frenchman is 5e before the last five tests of the day. It remains to be seen in what physical state he is. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and Aurel Manga hope for a medal in the 110m hurdles final (4:55 a.m., Paris time), just like Melvin Raffin in the men’s triple jump final (4 hours, Paris time). .
Read also: Tokyo 2021 Olympics: Kevin Mayer, the decathlon to the extreme
In canoeing, Maxime Beaumont (K1 – 200 m) and Manon Hostens (K1 – 500 m) compete in a semi-final, respectively at 2:30 a.m. and 3:19 a.m., Paris time. Vincent Matheron competes in the skateboard park qualifications (3:24 a.m., Paris time). At 3 a.m. KST, Alaïs Kalonji will try to qualify for the final in the 10m diving. For the great debut of karate at the Olympics, Steven Da Costa (- 67 kg) represents a real chance for a medal on the French side. His first fight is scheduled for 3:19 a.m. KST. Golfers Céline Bouthier and Perrine Delacour have already started on the 2e round of stroke play, as Elodie Clouvel and Marie Oteiza start the modern pentathlon events at 6 a.m. KST with fencing. The men start at 9:30 a.m., Paris time.
Later today, France is hoping for a medal in climbing (Mickaël Mawem) and track cycling (Benjamin Thomas) before France’s long-awaited men’s semi-finals against Egypt (in handball, at 10 a.m. de Paris), against Slovenia (in basketball, at 1 p.m. KST) and against Argentina (in volleyball, at 2 p.m. KST).