Laure Manaudou, Teddy Riner, Renaud Lavillenie, Kylian Mbappé, Kevin Mayer, Martin Fourcade - so many beloved French athletes who have shone with their exploits in recent years. It's hard to choose among these emblematic figures to designate the final bearer of the Olympic flame, destined to ignite the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
After crossing the Mediterranean and France, the Olympic flame will return to the capital to kick off the competition. Numerous French personalities, athletes and civilians will have had the honor of carrying the flame to its destination. But the final torchbearer remains a closely-guarded secret, and will light the cauldron at the Tuileries, where the flame will reside for the duration of the competition.
In 1992, for the Winter Games, it was Michel Platini who carried the flame, so why not a footballer? Kylian Mbappé seemed to be the obvious choice, much appreciated by the French, but in the end he was unable to take part in the Olympics. Martin Fourcade, Teddy Riner and Renaud Lavillenie, who are nearing the end of their careers, are also being considered, for a nice farewell and thank-you gift. To honor past champions, Marie-José Pérec also fits the bill.
