Together, they will be part of the party. The French athletics team achieved a good performance during the night from Saturday to Sunday at the world relays in Nassau (Bahamas), qualifying four of its five teams for the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 - August 11). .
The mixed 4x400m, women's and men's 4x100m and women's 4x400m teams have validated their ticket to the biggest global sporting event this summer. So many opportunities to shine in a selection in need of contenders for individual Olympic podiums.
Paradoxically, it is the men's 4×400m relay, world vice-champion in 2023 in Budapest, which has not been able – for the moment – to secure a place at the Games, with second relay runner Thomas Jordier having had to stop his race, injured. His teammates will have another chance to qualify for the Olympics on Sunday, during a repechage race.
“We have been working on this objective for two years”
The Nassau World Relays offer 14 qualifying places for the Games in the five relays contested on the track. Four series were run on Saturday for each discipline: the first two teams in these series qualified directly for the finals on Sunday and for the Olympics.
This is the case of the 4x400 m mixed tricolor led by Thomas Jordier, a few hours before his injury, Amandine Brossier, Gilles Biron and Louise Maraval for a second place in 3 min 14 sec 71, behind Poland (3 min 13 sec 53).
Orlann Oliere, Gémima Joseph, Hélène Parisot and Mallory Leconte then ran in 43 sec 09 behind the United States to ensure qualification for the women's 4x100m, before being imitated, among the men, by Mickael Zeze, Jeff Erius , Pablo Mateo and Aymeric Priam, winners in 38 sec 32 ahead of Great Britain. “We have been working on this objective for two years, I am happy to have validated the qualification,” commented Jeff Erius.
Shana Grebo, Fanny Peltier, Diana Iscaye and Camille Seri then propelled the women's 4x400m to 2nd place in their heat in 3:28:06, behind Poland. “We didn’t think we would be able to qualify in the first race, but ultimately everything is possible,” rejoiced Diana Iscaye. “We saw the Eiffel Tower as the finish got closer,” smiled Fanny Peltier, thinking of their future Parisian summer.
The international stars present in the Bahamas shone for their national team, like the American Noah Lyles, qualified in the 4x100 m, like the Italian Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, or the Dutch Femke Bol, in the 4x400 m mixed.
Sunday will take place the repechage races with three series per discipline, for two qualifying places for the Games per series. Two places per event will remain up for grabs after the world relays, based on results between December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2024.
