The Monegasque Olympic Committee has introduced the five athletes who will represent the Principality at the upcoming 2024 Paris Games. Among them are swimmers Lisa Pou and Théo Druenne, who were named as the official flag bearers at a ceremony attended by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene.
In his capacity as President of the Monegasque Olympic Committee, Prince Albert II led the proceedings at the event, which was held at the Yacht Club de Monaco on 27th June.
“You will represent Monaco,” he told the sportsmen and women with pride. “You will defend our colours. You will do so with enthusiasm, tenacity and talent. On behalf of the Monegasque Olympic Committee, I wish to express my most sincere and warm encouragement, and, wholeheartedly, I wish you to fully experience these Olympic Games.“
The athletes
Five Monegasque athletes will be representing the Principality at the upcoming Summer Olympics. They include swimmers Lisa Pou and Théo Druenne, who will carry the Monaco flag at the official opening ceremony in Paris on 26th July.
Pou, who secured her spot for the Paris Games by finishing ninth in the 10km open-water event at the World Championships in Doha last February, was introduced first. She has earned multiple medals in junior and senior categories at the Games of the Small States of Europe. This will be her first appearance at the Olympics, where she will compete in the marathon swimming 10km event.
See more: Monegasque swimmer Lisa Pou qualifies for Paris 2024 Olympics
For Théo Druenne, a bronze medallist in the 5km at the French Junior Championships in 2023, this will be his second Olympic appearance. At the Tokyo Games in 2020, Druenne set a personal best in the 1500 freestyle swimming event. This summer, he will compete in the 800m freestyle.
Xiaoxin Yang, a prominent figure in table tennis, became the first official Monegasque entry when she won the sport’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Doha in March 2021. Currently ranked 10th in the Olympic standings and 15th globally, this will also be her second showing at the Olympics. Most recently, she was among the local torchbearers when the Olympic flame passed through the Principality.
See more: Crowd cheers on as Princely Family take Olympic flame during historic stop in Monaco
Rowing standout Quentin Antonelli, who collected gold, silver and bronze medals at the World Coastal Rowing Championships between 2015 and 2017, was also presented. This will mark his second Olympic participation. He will compete in the single sculls event.
Marie-Charlotte Gastaud, a national record holder in the 200m and 400m hurdles, is the fifth Monegasque athlete who will represent Monaco this summer. Gastaud recently ran a personal best of 7.95 seconds in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, and clocked 12.52 seconds in the 100m at the European Championships in Rome. She will make her Olympic debut in the 100m event.
The athletes will now continue their preparations for the Games, which will be held in Paris between 26th July and 11th August.
To see more from the event, watch the Monaco Instagram reel below:
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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department