In the men’s rugby sevens final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, France secured its first gold medal by defeating Fiji with a score of 28-7. The French team, led by Antoine Dupont, is considered the world’s best rugby outfit. This remarkable turnaround happened after facing an initial setback in the game, handing Fiji their inaugural loss in Olympic history.
The victory was glorified as “extraordinary and astounding” by Dupont, who had stepped away from the Six Nations tournament earlier that year to concentrate on the Olympic fixtures. “The groundwork was extensive and nothing short of extraordinary. Receiving this medal is the ultimate appreciation for our collective efforts,” commented Dupont. He didn’t fail to mention the appreciable audience, which created a vibrant ambiance.
Dubbing himself a patriot, the 27-year-old rugby star appreciated the global exposure that this platform brought to the sport. Within a span of two months, he round off a fine season with victories at France’s Top 14 and the prestigious European Champions Cup, besides the coveted Olympic medal.
This week saw him further assume the role of French sports’ flagbearer, having been invited for a lunch, presided over by the French president Emmanuel Macron. Even though Macron was present at Stade de France on Saturday, an unassuming Dupont claimed that he was steadfast in chasing his goals, eager to enjoy his forthcoming vacation.
Thanking his team, Toulouse, and the national federation for maintaining a schedule that kept him fit, Dupont insisted that the victory belonged to his team. It is an enormous prize and testament to the hard work his team, the sport of rugby, and the nation as a whole had put in. The supporters had every reason to take pride in the electricity at the gathering — a fitting start to the Olympics.
In Rio 2016 and Tokyo three years prior, Fiji had secured the gold and had acquired 17 consecutive wins at the Games. However, their 18th victorious appearance seemed imminent when Joseva Talacolo broke through merely a minute and a half into the first whistle. Jefferson-Lee Joseph levelled the match with a converted try before half-time, and then the spotlight shifted to Dupont who came off the bench post-intermission. On first contact, Dupont sprinted down the sidelines, outpaced Jerry Tuwai, and deftly tossed a pass over Iowane Teba for Aaron Grandidier Nkakang to solidify a score. The celebration began in earnest as Dupont’s strength carried him over the line twice. The French national team, all dressed in matching white attire, collectively danced on the middle of the field as Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’ blared through the Stade de France. Meanwhile, South Africa managed to claim bronze by defeating Australia, who were down to six men after Nick Malouf was disqualified for a high tackle, with a close score of 26 to 19.