Like Manon Brunet, they made a promise: “Do not relive the Rio scenario”. Mission accomplished ! The French saber women became Olympic vice-champions in Tokyo on Saturday July 31, beaten by Imperial Russians in the final (45-41).
Already present in Brazil, Cécilia Berder, Manon Brunet and the now young retiree Charlotte Lembach erase the regrets of the 2016 Games with the defeat in the quarter-finals against Italy followed by a very long day to shoot for classification matches without stake.
“We came for the gold, but we are going to savor this medal”, assured Lembach (33) at the microphone of France Television a few minutes after the last assault of his career. Whether we prefer the use of Russia to that of “ROC” (Russian Olympic Committee), the customers remained the same for the French women with the Olympic champion in individual, Sofia Pozdniakova, and her runner-up Sofia Velikaya.
“The Russians, I know them, I shot so much against them! Finally, I say the Russians, it’s the ROC now. It’s up to us to rock! “, jokingly preferred Cécilia Berder in the mixed zone before the final.
For half of the match, Berder and her teammates led the dance. At 20-14 after the relay of a very inspired Manon Brunet throughout the day, the feat seemed possible against the reigning Olympic champions.
But, as against Italy in the semi-finals (an 18-5 conceded to substitute Michela Battiston), Charlotte Lembach was going to experience a black hole conceding an 11-3 from Elena Nikitina.
“We will meet in three years”
Jean-Philippe Daurelle, the national coach in charge of the saber, then sent the substitute Sara Balzer to the front, but the damage was done. Cecilia Berder however refused the defeat to maintain a start of suspense against Velikaya, but the Olympic vice-champion ended up registering the 45th touch on her 4th attempt.
For the French women, however, this silver medal is the concrete expression of a good consistency during the major meetings since Rio: world champions in 2018 and second in 2019.
Individual bronze medalist, Manon Brunet made an appointment in 2024: “We had a great fencing and we will meet in three years”. In Paris, the Lyonnaise will never be more than 28 years old. Six years older, Berder also plans to continue wearing the iron before fully devoting herself to her other career, that of journalist.
After the historic zero point in London in 2012 and the start of Rio four years later (three medals, including a title), French fencing confirms its recovery: it now has a total of four medals in Tokyo, after gold from the swordsman Romain Cannone, the bronze from Manon Bruno and the silver from the foil girls.
Olympic runner-up in 2016, the men’s foil team still hopes to improve this record during the last event on Sunday.