DPA
Paris
Led by swimming poster boy Leon Marchand, the whole French home team are riding a wave of national euphoria at the Paris Olympics.
Fans in the La Defense swim stadium have even rephrased the national anthem which has already been heard three times after Marchand’s golds in the 400m medley, and 200m breaststroke and butterfly.
Proudly singing along to La Marseillaise, the section “Marchons. Oui Marchons” (Let us march, yes, let us march) was easily rephrased “Marchand, Marchand” by the fans to hail his historic achievements.
“The crowd was on fire. It was insane to live this as a French person. I am so happy,” Marchand said after his double gold on Wednesday.
Fans again after pandemic-marred Tokyo Paris and the visitors from around the world have embraced the Games which come three years after the Tokyo Games which took place behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s special to have the crowd here. The atmosphere has been amazing,” American swim icon Katie Ledecky said after her 1,500m gold.
The fans are showing up in huge numbers everywhere, and the strong start of the home team has further boosted enthusiasm.
Home team surges France has won 26 medals, including eight golds, in the first five competition days, which is just six less than at the entire Tokyo Games.
According to Nielsen’s Gracenote data research projection, France could finish with 27 golds and 60 medals overall, with stars like judoka Teddy Riner, who helped light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremoy, still to come at the Games which run until August 11.
Rugby superstar Antoine Dupont helped the French team to rugby sevens gold, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot lived up to her top billing in the women’s moutainbike, and so did Cassandre Beaugrand in the triathlon.
Having the triathlon swim leg in the Seine River was a matter of national importance and pride, and headlines after Wednesday’s races ranged from “In Seine” to “Seine-sational.”
Landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Place de La Concorde, the Grand Palais and Versailles palace feature prominently as Paris and France proudly shows off its greatness.
Olympics welcome after political turbulences The Games come after weeks of political uncertainty in connection with a surge of the far right.
President Emmanuel Macron did his share by calling a snap election, but after victory of the far right has been prevented is now also caught in Olympic fever.
Marchand revealed after his first gold that Macron phoned him and said “that he watched the race with his whole family and that they were all screaming when I won.”
International party atmosphere The noise inside the La Defense venue has been named incredible but it is not just the French athletes who are profiting.
“It’s really cool. You can feel it in the call room, even during the heats. It’s a really, really great atmosphere,” German 1,500m freestyle bronze medallist Isabel Gose said.
The atmosphere at the veunes is avery different compared to regular events in the respective sports, as German Tokyo tennis gold medallist and 2024 French Open finalist Alexander Zverev pointed out.
“The atmosphere at the French Open is very tennis-specific. The people come to watch tennis,” Zverev said at Roland Garros.
“Now I have the feeling that it is a very diverse crowd which just wats to watch the Olympic Games. It’s a super atmosphere, a party atmosphere.”The Paris Olympics are taking place amid
a party atmosphere as France delights in
its Games – and it has helped that the home team around swim sensation Leon Marchand is delivering many medals.
