Fencing: reigning Olympic champion Cannonne, Borel but not Bardenet in the selection of swordsmen

Borel et Cannone seront aux Jeux Olympiques de Paris, Bardenent, non… MAXPPP – Yves SALVAT

Le Comité national olympique sportif français a diffusé, mercredi 29 mai, la liste des épéistes retenus pour les Jeux Olympiques. 

Unlike Tokyo Olympic champion Romain Cannone and Yannick Borel, the third slinger among French swordsmen, Alexandre Bardenet, was not selected for the Paris Olympic Games, according to the list released Wednesday by the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

It is Luidgi Midelton (25 years old), fourth French, behind Bardenet (34 years old), in the internal selective ranking as well as in the world ranking who completes the trio of holders for the individual tournament designated by the federal commission of the # 39;sword men. For the role of replacement, the choice fell on Paul Allègre.

𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐐𝐔𝐄 !🤺🔥
Le CNOSF a validé la sélection olympique de l'épée hommes.#Allez #Paris2024 #escrime pic.twitter.com/FTAeRbd1VQ

— Fédération Française d'Escrime (@ffescrime) May 29, 2024

In open conflict with the general manager of the army Hugues Obry, the trio Cannone, Borel and Bardenet, world champion in 2022 by teams, had left Insep, where are the federal installations, in the fall before finally obtaining the replacement of Obry, who resigned in February but still supervises the other French shooters.

Bardenet reassembled against the DTN

The change was not enough to completely ease tensions: the three shooters were still training only very partially at Insep in recent weeks. "The DTN (national technical direction, Editor's note), I blame it", had let go of Alexandre Bardenet two weeks ago before the last stage World Cup before the Olympics. "They sometimes behaved very borderline, taking the side of the coaches".