What a spectacular match! France clinched their first gold medal of the 2024 Olympics on Saturday night, dominating Fiji with a resounding 28-7 victory. The mastermind behind this triumph was none other than Antoine Dupont, who not only made one try but added two more in a performance that will be etched in Olympic lore.
The thrilling game was witnessed by a euphoric crowd of nearly 80,000 French supporters, the largest ever gathered for a sevens match. President Emmanuel Macron was right in the center of it all, his grin radiating with the reflected glory from his bright white teeth as he cheered from the balcony.
Few anticipated this outcome, except perhaps Dupont himself. Against all odds, France entered this match as heavy underdogs, having failed to even qualify for the Tokyo Games four years ago. They faced a Fiji team that had previously secured both gold medals in this event and won all 17 of their matches leading up to the final, with no opponent ever coming closer than four points to defeating them.
However, as Thomas Carlyle’s great man theory suggests, history often pivots on the influence of our heroes, and France certainly had theirs. The tide turned when he entered the game at half-time.
Just seven minutes in, the score was tied at seven-all. Fiji had started strong, reminiscent of the rains that fell during the opening ceremony the previous night. Selestino Ravutaumada broke through Paulin Riva’s defense, darted past Stephan Parez-Edo Martin, and glided across the center of the pitch. The ball moved fluidly, and in no time, Joseva Talacolo had found the try line.
France equalized against the flow of the game when Andy Timo skillfully maneuvered through a tackle and passed to Jefferson-Lee Joseph, who scored under the posts. Yet, they were under immense pressure. Then came the turning point. Following the break, the camera zoomed in on Dupont, poised in the backfield. As the ball came loose from the restart, he seized it with his very first touch and darted down the wing. It was as if he was calculating his next move in real-time, racing towards the far corner—10, 20, 30, 40, 50 meters ahead.
Dupont turned the final against the odds in favor of France. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
He maneuvered past Jerry Tuwai and executed an overhead pass to Aaron Grandidier Nkanang just before being pushed into touch. Suddenly, the French players appeared to shake off the doubts that plagued them in the first half. They became unstoppable, moving fluidly across the field.
Fiji, whose coach had vowed they would leave their rivals “chasing shadows,” found themselves impotent against this relentless French offense. The French team darted and dashed, cleverly evasive and striking.
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Dupont netted a third try with a quick tap and go from close range, nearly assuring France’s victory, followed by a fourth from a rolling maul, just to seal the deal. By this point, the atmosphere inside the Stade de France was electric. It may be a dry stadium for the duration of the Olympics, but you wouldn’t have guessed from the fervor in the stands. The aging structure seemed to vibrate with the excitement, as the crowd bounced, threatening to bring the entire venue down.
Rugby is traditionally regarded as a team sport, and it’s evident that Dupont’s humble approach contributed to France’s success. Nonetheless, few moments have looked so much like an individual conquest as this one did on Saturday night. Dupont took control of the game, which he has only been playing for a few months, and defied all expectations to direct it on his terms.
He rose to the occasion in a way that very few athletes can, and he will receive recognition for it that exceeds anything previously achieved in his sport.
