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Antoine Dupont helps host country France win first gold of 2024 Olympics
By Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY,
5 hours ago
PARIS – Antoine Dupont received the loudest ovation during pregame introductions, the crowd roared every time he entered the game, and his star is going to be even brighter now that he helped France become Olympic champions in men’s rugby sevens in front of an adoring home crowd.
France’s men’s rugby team did the unthinkable playing in front of a raucous crowd at Stade de France. France got a hard-fought upset victory over gold-medal favorite Fiji to give the French its first Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens, winning the final 26-7. It’s the host country’s first gold medal of the 2024 Olympics.
"It’s crazy. It’s hard to find the words when we are lucky enough to play games like this. Just wearing this medal and in front of our public, who has been incredible for three days, it’s hard to find the words. An immense joy," Dupont said after the match. “It’s obviously a team victory. This sport is by essence collective. If we don't make the effort for the buddy next to us, then we are not moving forward. Our mindset is what helped us to win, and it’s with that we built ourselves.”
Fiji took the lead initially, but France scored 28 unanswered points behind Dupont who had a team-best two tries in the win.
France's Andy Timo celebrates during the men's gold medal rugby sevens match between France and Fiji. Carl de Souza, AFP via Getty Images
Team France rallied behind a home crowd that gave them emotional support and motivation throughout.
It’s was Fiji’s first loss in rugby sevens in Olympic competition.
France defeated Argentina in the quarterfinal and South Africa in the semifinal to advance to the gold-medal game.
Nicknamed “The Gifted”, Dupont is a star in rugby 15’s. He’s the team captain for his country and was named rugby 15’s player of the year in 2021. He decided to switch to rugby sevens to help France compete for a gold medal on their home soil.
Dupont delivered on his goal, and France are Olympic champions in rugby sevens for the first time ever.
“He is the most important player," France coach Jerome Daret said of Dupont. "He made us reach 200% of our potential and gave rugby sevens the opportunity to be in the spotlight on the world stage.”
Rugby sevens was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 2016. Fiji won Olympic gold at the Rio de Janeiro Games and the Tokyo Olympics. Saturday’s defeat was Fiji’s first loss in Olympic competition since rugby sevens Olympic competition began in 2016.
Team USA finishes eighth
Team USA was unable to get its first Olympic rugby sevens medal.
Team USA lost to Ireland 17-14 and Argentina 19-0 to fall to eighth place at the Paris Olympics. They finish with a 1-4-1 record.
The lone bright spot for Team USA was when Perry Baker scored four tries against Uruguay, which set the Olympic men’s record for tries in a single match.
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