Who will be the two flag bearers for France at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games this summer? It's July, following a vote among all the selected athletesthat the CNOSF will officially reveal the two names, a man and a woman, who must satisfy different rules: not having already been a flag bearer, having already competed in the Olympic Games or respecting and embodying the Charter of Olympic Values and responding to exemplary criteria…
According to L'Equipeapplications must be submitted by athletes and submitted by their federations between April 1 and May 31, and Rudy Gobert visibly offered his own.
“Of course I’m applying, I’ve always dreamed of it and it would be an incredible honor”, he explains in Le Monde. “I have always been devoted to the French team and this would be a new way to represent the country. »
The competition is however tough since, among basketball players alone, Nicolas Batum could also be a candidate. Florent Manaudou, also interested, or Renaud Lavillenie, are also among the possibilities.
“I also dreamed of beating the Americans in the final. I saw myself as an Olympic champion. Doing it at home is the opportunity of a lifetime”
For Rudy Gobert, it would in any case be a strong symbol, he whom no one really saw succeeding in basketball and who continues to be mocked, despite his “Best Defender of the Year” trophies in the NBA and the great campaign of the Wolves this season. Until recently, an anonymous survey designated him as the most overrated player.
“In their eyes, I am above all the weird guy from France who wins a lot of trophies, and that can bother people”tries to explain Rudy Gobert at ESPN. “I impact matches in a very unique way. It's not as cool or flashy as other guys, so it's sometimes harder for them to respect that. I think I'm mostly misunderstood. I think I annoy a lot of these guys.”
In particular Draymond Green, who never missed an opportunity to attack the Frenchman.
But if being a standard bearer represents a dream for Rudy Gobert, there is an even more beautiful one. “I also dreamed of beating the Americans in the final. I saw myself as an Olympic champion” continues Rudy Gobert in Le Monde. “Doing it at home is the opportunity of a lifetime. » Especially against the “Avengers” sent by Team USA.
