You don’t know him, and that’s quite normal. But you will certainly never forget his name. Romain Cannone, tricolor swordsman and youngest of the French fencing team, became Olympic champion of the épée on Sunday July 25 at the Tokyo Olympics, at the end of a remarkable journey. He is the first French gold medalist of these 2021 Olympics.
Borel disappoints, Cannone detonates
The only French survivor of Sunday in Chiba, after the early eliminations of foilists Ysaora Thibus (in 8th), Anita Blaze and Pauline Ranvier (from the first round), from the former Yannick Borel from the start or even Alexandre Bardenet (in 8th), Romain Cannone surprised everyone and embellished a dull day of French fencing. Here are three things to know about the new darling of the discipline.
He started fencing … in New York
Born April 12, 1997, Romain Cannone discovered fencing at the age of 12 in the United States, where he spent most of his childhood. The New Yorker, sword specialist, decides to return to France in 2016 to try the adventure with the Blues. After great medals won in the young collectives of the France team (gold at the European team championships in U20 in 2016 and U23 in 2017), he obtained his first selection among seniors in 2018.
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Romain Cannone’s explosion of joy. The swordsman seduced with his offensive and spectacular style. © EPA / MAXPPP
Vice-champion of France in 2019, the Habs, now 24, have a clean sheet individually and shine especially in teams in international competitions: he was one of the four fencers of the team who won. the World Cup in Bern, Switzerland, in 2020.
When he puts away his weapons, Romain Cannone is a business school student.
From replacement to saving the Blues
The good story is that the Franco-American should only have been a replacement at the Games this summer. His participation has been recorded in extremis, after the eviction of the French team of Daniel Jérent, summoned before the French anti-doping. Suffice to say that no one knew him or would have bet a coin on him.
The youngest of the French fencing team, 47th in the world, saw his first Olympic Games. And allowed the Blues to raise their heads after a Sunday made of series eliminations. A great success for such an outsider.
A remarkable journey
And what about his career in Tokyo. The Frenchman did not tremble in the face of the various obstacles – of size – which got in his way. After eliminating the Venezuelan Ruben Limardo Gascon, Olympic champion in London-2012, by 15 touches to 12, Romain Cannone defeated the Dutchman Bas Verwijlen, 7th in the world, by 15 touches to 11.
Before accomplishing another feat in the quarterfinals: eliminate by 15 touches to 12 Serguey Bida, the Russian competing under the neutral flag, who is no less than the 2019 vice-world champion… and the world number 2. And what about his half against the 2012 Olympic champion and his final against the world number 1 and 2019 world champion … A recital.
?? ???? Romain Cannone goes to the last square!
The French swordsman realizes the sensation by disposing in the quarter-finals of Sergey Bida (15-12) #Tokyo2020
?? Follow the Olympics live: https://t.co/wRM6q9VOGt pic.twitter.com/WpmpJmrAy3
– France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 25, 2021
“I create a lot of games, I’m not someone who defends a lot, it’s me who does the work. I am a small build, I am a little thin so I play on the ardor, the speed “, commented Romain Cannone to AFP. In the semi-finals, Bleuet once again showed guts and agility to dismiss Ukrainian Igor Reizlin (15-10) in his path. Nothing seems to be able to stop the new sensation of French fencing.
It’s a bit of a drag for the FFL, Cannone.
– Fédé ???? de la Lose (@FFLose) July 25, 2021
“It’s a bit of a drag for the FFL, Cannone”, will tweet the famous humoristic sports account La Fédé de la Lose, following his sporting epic in Tokyo. We couldn’t have said better.
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