There's no doubt about it, these Olympic Games never cease to provide us with incredible images. Among the guests attending the events is a whale from Tahiti. And we're told that she hadn't booked her ticket to watch the surfing.
In Paris, iconic monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Château de Versailles are transformed into stadiums to host the competitions. On the other side of the globe, the waves of Teahupo'o in Tahiti offer an equally incredible setting for surfing, and the whales apparently understand this.
This Monday, August 5, during the final women's semi-final, a whale decided to make a surprise appearance. The marine animal invited itself into the field of cameras, captivating spectators and sports commentators alike, including Justine Dupont and Michel Bourez for France Télévisions. "Oh, the whale calf dance! The mother can't be far away," exclaimed Bourez, amazed by the unexpected scene.
The visit seemed to bring luck to Tatiana Weston-Webb, who qualified for the final before losing to American Caroline Marks. France's Johanne Defay won the bronze medal by beating Brisa Hennessy, marking the first Olympic medal for French surfing.
In the men's event, France's Kauli Vaast was crowned Olympic champion after beating Australia's Jack Robinson. With these victories, France ranks third in the overall medal table, behind the USA and China, with a total of 48 medals. This is France's best performance since the Atlanta Games, with the possibility of surpassing 15 gold medals by the end of the week.
The unexpected presence of the whale undoubtedly restored one of the memorable images of this surfing semi-final at Teahupo'o, making it a magical and unforgettable day for spectators and athletes alike. An anecdote that will remain engraved in the memories of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
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