That night at the Paris 2024 Olympics was something special for France! The crowd at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium went wild as French BMX racers pulled off an incredible 1-2-3 finish in the men's final.
Joris Daudet took gold, Sylvain Andre snagged silver, and Romain Mahieu grabbed bronze. The whole place was buzzing, and even French President Emmanuel Macron was there to cheer them on.
This wasn't just any win. It was the first time in 100 years that France swept an Olympic podium, a perfect nod to Paris hosting the Games again after a century. Daudet, who's been a three-time world champion, finally got his Olympic gold after missing out on his last three tries. "Winning gold and sharing the podium with friends is just amazing," he said, clearly over the moon.
The French riders were on fire from the get-go as they dominated the semifinals, setting the stage for their historic night. Switzerland’s Cedric Butti came close, but the Frenchmen were just too strong.
Adding to the excitement, Romain Mahieu’s girlfriend, Saya Sakakibara from Australia, won gold in the women's BMX race. Talk about a power couple! Mahieu couldn't stop beaming with pride, saying, he thought to be more proud of her than of what he did.
The French fans were incredible, waving flags and singing all night. It was a fantastic end to a day that already saw French victories in swimming and judo. This night wasn't just about BMX; it was a celebration of French sportsmanship and pride!
Surely this night was one for the history books in French sport!