Rugby Sevens: Incredible Dupont Leads France to Their First Gold at Paris 2024 Olympics

Rugby Sevens: Incredible Dupont Leads France to Their First Gold at Paris 2024 Olympics

France claimed their first gold medal at their own Olympics and their first in men’s rugby sevens with a stunning 28-7 victory over double-defending champions Fiji on an unforgettable night at the Stade de France on July 27th. The star of the match was Antoine Dupont, who led France to a historic win, breaking Fiji’s undefeated Olympic streak.

Eight minutes that changed French rugby forever ⏰

What an impact from Antoine Dupont#Paris2024 | #RugbySevens pic.twitter.com/nDR5NYqTpV

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) July 27, 2024

Fiji, the hot favourites and winners of all 17 of their previous Olympic matches, seemed poised to complete a hat-trick of titles. However, Dupont’s remarkable seven-minute performance changed the game. Though on the pitch for only half the match, Dupont’s impact was immense. He set up the try that put France ahead and then scored two more himself.

The night began ominously for the hosts as Fiji’s Joseva Talacolo finished off a classic move two minutes in, giving Fiji an early lead. Despite the setback, France kept their composure, and the home fans erupted when Jefferson-Lee Joseph dived between the posts, with Rayan Rebbadj converting to level the scores at halftime.

Danse de la joie!! Gold Gold Gold 🇫🇷 @Dupont9A #Paris2024 #RugbySevens #paris2024olympics pic.twitter.com/tv2ZJY5pIh

— Jeanne Baron (@jeannebarontv) July 27, 2024

The turning point came when Dupont joined the fray in the second half. Missing the Six Nations to focus on the sevens campaign, Dupont immediately made his presence felt. He darted down the left wing and cleverly fed Aaron Grandidier Nkanang for France’s second try, which Paulin Riva converted. Dupont then barreled over himself, breaking Fiji’s resistance. The stadium’s roof nearly came off when Dupont took a tap penalty to crash over again in the final play, sealing the 28-7 victory.

“It’s such a great honour to win this title and I have such great emotions. It’s hard to describe. It is such a great thing to achieve with these boys. It’s really top of the list,” said Dupont. “We worked so hard for so long to do this. This is just the cherry on the cake.”

Earlier, South Africa claimed the bronze medal with a last-play try by Shaun Williams, defeating six-man Australia 26-19.

The victory for France marks a monumental moment in their rugby history, ending Fiji’s Olympic dominance and securing the host nation its first gold medal of the Games. The electric atmosphere in the Stade de France, with nearly 70,000 fans and the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, added to the historic occasion.

Rio 2016 🥇
Tokyo 2020 🥇
Paris 2024 🥈

🇫🇯🔥🙌🏽 #Paris2024 #RugbySevens pic.twitter.com/b6oDLNvGsU

— Fiji 7s Team (@Fiji7sTeam) July 27, 2024

France’s underdog story is inspiring, having failed to qualify for Tokyo 2020, yet coming back strong to win gold on home soil. Dupont’s decision to switch from the traditional 15s format to rugby sevens paid off spectacularly, adding an Olympic gold to his illustrious career and partly erasing the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup on home soil last year.

France just won the #Paris2024 gold medal in rugby sevens and then did this !!! pic.twitter.com/buXGbTqBMn

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) July 27, 2024

As Dupont and his team celebrated their victory, the cheers of the French crowd echoed through the Stade de France, marking a proud moment for French rugby and sport. The women’s rugby sevens competition is set to kick off on Sunday, promising more excitement and potential triumphs for the host nation.

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